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COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  FLOWERS 
MEMORIAL  COLLECTION 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
DURHAM.  N.  C. 


PRESENTED  BY 

W.  W.  FLOWERS 


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THE 


HAND-BOOK 


OF 


ARTILLERY. 


BY 


CAPT.  JOSEPH  ROBERTS, 


Fourth  Regiment  Artillery  United  States  Army. 


J.  W.  RANDOLPH  : 

121  MAIN-STREET,  RICHMOND,  7 A 

1861. 


# 


-      60 


error's     ilA. 

PR^tlEEDINGS. 


The  following  Report  was  made  by  the  Committee  appointed 
at  a  meeting  of  the  staff  of  the  Artillery  School  at  Fort  Monroe, 
Va.,  to  whom  the  commanding  officer  of  the  School  had  referred 
this  work  : 

Your  Committee  to  which  hae  been  referred  the  consideration  of 
the  work  of  Captain  Roberts,  proposed  as  a  text-book  for  the  Ar- 
tillery School,  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  Report,  viz  : 

The  work  submitted  by  Captain  Roberts  and  entitled  "Hand- 
book of  Artillery,"  embraces  sections  on  the  following  subjects. 

[For  subjects  see  Table  of  Contents,  page  7.] 

Under  each  of  these  heads,  except  the  last,  the  work  contains  a 
number  of  questions  and  answers.  Your  Committee  have  careful- 
ly examined  each  of  these  questions  and  their  corresponding  an- 
swers, and  find  that  the  answers  have  been  principally  drawn  from 
the  following  sources,  viz  :  Gibbon's  Artillerist's  Manual,  Light 
and  Heavy  Artillery  Tactics,  and  the  Ordnance  Manual,  all  of 
which  works  have  been  authorized  by  the  War  Department. — 
Wherever  the  prescribed  authorities  furnish  the  means  of  answer- 
ing the  questions,  they  appear  to  have  been  followed  as  closely  as 
possible. 

The  idea  of  the  arrangement,  and  a  few  of  the  questions  and  an- 
swers, appear  to  have  been  taken  from  "Burns'  Questions  and  An- 
swers on  Artillery ;"  but  that  work  has  been  so  far  deviated  from, 
as  fairly  to  entitle  the  present  work  to  be  considered  as  an  original 
compilation: 


a2      2  8  P  ■^-  ^^  ^^ 


4  PROCEEDINGS. 

Ill  the  opiuiou  of  your  Committee,  the  arrangement  of  the  iuL- 
jects  and  the  selection  of  the  several  questions  and  answers  have 
been  judicious.  The  work  is  one  which  may  be  advaniageouslj 
used  for  reference  by  the  oflRcers,  and  is  admirably  adapted  to  the 
instruction  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  Artillery. 

Your  committee  do  therefore  recommend  that  it  be  substituted 
as  a  text-book  in  place  of  "Burns'  Questions  and  Answers  on  Ar- 
tillery." 

(Signed)  I.  VOGDES, 

Capt.  l8T  Arty. 
(Signed)  E.  O.C.ORD, 

Capt.  3d  Art't. 
(Signed)  J.  A.  HASKIN, 

BvT.  Maj.  and  Capt.  1st  Art'y. 


The  preceding  Report  was  adopted,  and  the  Staff  recommended 
this  work  as  a  book  of  instruction  at  the  Artillery  School^  in  lieu 
of  "Burns'  Questions  and  Answers  on  Artillery." 


THE  FLOWERS  COLLECTION 


PREFACE. 


The  following  compilation  originated  in  an  attempt  to  adapt 
Lieut.  Col.  Burns'  "Questions  and  Answers  on  Artillery"  to  the 
United  States  service.  The  British  Artillery  being  very  different 
fro&  ours,  it  was  found  necessary  to  omit  many  of  Burns'  ques- 
tions, and  to  introduce  others. 

The  compiler  is  under  great  obligations  to  several  of  his  brother 
oflBcers  at  Fort  Monroe  (especially  to  Major  Haskin,  1st  Artillery), 
for  their  kindness  in  assisting  him  in  the  compilation  of  this  little 
volume,  and  for  important  suggestions  in  the  revision  of  many  of 
the  *■  answers." 

Fort  Monroe^  Fa.,  1860. 


289935 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Preface,              -             -             -             -            -  -          -  5 

General  Table  of  Contents,         _..---'}• 

Parti.,  Section  1.  On  Artillery  in  General,          _        -        _  o 

"             "         2.  On  Guns, 24 

**             "         3.  On  Howitzers,          -          -          -          -  26 

•*             "         4.  On  Columbiads,          -          -          -        -  2t 

"             '*         5.  On  Mortars,          ...        -        -  28 

"             "         6.  On  Sea-coast  Artillery,        -        -        -  32 

«'             ''         n.  Siege  Artillery,          -          -          -          -  33 

■  "             "         8.  Field  Guns  and  Field  Batteries,         -        -  36 

Part  II.      *'         1.  Pointing  Guns  and  Howitzers,         -        -  46 

"            "        2.  Pointing  Mortars,          -        -         -        -  51 

Part  III.  Charges, 54 

IV.  Ranges, 56 

The  pages  of  remainder  of  contents  refer  to  the  figures  in  the  margin 
of  the  text. 

V.  Ricochet, [73 

VI.  Recoil, .TV 

VIT.  Windage 80 

VIIT.  Gunpowder,               83 

IX.  Projectiles,                 .        -          -          ..        ^        -  90 

X.  Laboratory  Stores,  -        ~         -         _        _        _  100 

XI.  Platforms, 118 

XII.  Artillery  Carriages  and  Machines                  -        -  123 

XIII.  Practical  Gunnery,  -        -          -          ,         _        -  147 

XIV.  Miscellaneous,  -  -  -  ...  351 
App.^ndix — Rifle  Canuoa,  -  -  -  -  _  .  103 
Index,                --             -,,_,,  16Q 

a4 


THE 

HAND-BOOK  OF   ARTILLERY. 


PAj^T  I^  SECTION  I. 

.  ARTJiraERY  m  GENERAL. 

1.  What  is  underllood  by  the  terra  Artillery  1 
HeavJ  firetiarms  of  every  description. 

2.  How  many  kind-s  of  Artillery  are  employed  ift  the 
land  service  of  the  United  States? 

Four,  viz.  :  Guns,  Howitzers,  Columbiad's,  and  Mor- 
tars. ^ 

3.  How  are'these  pieces  distinguished? 
According  to  their  use  as  Sea-coast,  Garrison,  Siege, 

and  Field  Artillery. 

4.  What  metals  are  used  in  the  construction  of  Artil- 
lery ? 

All  heavy  artillery,  such  as  that  for  sea-coast,  siege, 
ai'id  garrison  equipment,  is  made  .of  iron  ;  and  that  for 
^Q-|  field  service  of  bronze. 

-■       5.  What  is  bronze  for  cannon  ? 

An  ALLOY  consisting  of  90  parts  of  copper  and  10  of 
tin,  allowing  a  variation  of  one  part  of  tin  more  ot  less. 
It  is  commonlv  called  brass. 
a5 


10  nAKD-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

6.  Why  is  bronze  used  in  preference  to  iron,  for  field 
pieces  ? 

This  metal,  havin";  i^reater  tenacity  and  strength  than 
iron,  the  pieces  can  be  made  lighter, 

7.  In  what  respect  does  iron  merit  a  preference  ? 

Iron  is  less  expensive  than  bronze,  and  is  more  ca- 
pable of  sustaining  long-continued  firing  with  larger 
charges;  such  pieces  are,  therefore,  better  calculated  for 
the  constant  heavy  firing  of  sieges. 

Note. — In  the  sieges  in  Spain,  bronze  gnns  could  never  support 
a  lieavier  fire  than  120  rounds  in  JjventyAur  hours,  ami  were 
never  used  to  hatier  lA  distances  exceeding  3U0  yards  ,  whereas, 
with  iron  guns,  tlircc  times  that  number  of  #bunds  were  fired  with 
effect,  from  three  times  the  distai^e,  for  several  *'onsecutive*days, 
without  an}'  other  injury  than  the  cnlaM|wiient  of  their  vents./"-. 
The  comparative  power  of  conducting   nRit  m  iron  and  copper 
being  respectively  as  3,743  to  8,9.3^*taking  j^ld  at  10,000,  it^jjfc 
evident  that  in  jjracticing  with  iron  and  bronze  pieces  of  tlfe  sa^BT 
calibre,  it  would  soon  .become  necessary  lb  reduce  the  charges,  m 
the  bronze  pieces,  and.  also  to  increase  the  time  ketwcdri  tJtie  d 
charges,  to  prevent   their  softening  an^   droopiBg j/v^ile   wi 
iron,  full  charges  and  rapid  firing  may  be  kept  u^.  * 

8.  What  additional  crbjection  has  been  urge^  to  bronze 
for  cannon  ?  '         j  JT        ' 

The  difficulty  of  formin*  a  perfect  giffoy,  i'nr  conse- 
quence of  the  difference  of  fusibility- of  tin  and  copper. 

9.  What  iron  pieces  are  used  in  the  land  service,?      </ 
12,  13.  and  24-pdr.  siege  aud  garrison  guns,  32 


is- 


and  42-pdr.  sea-coast  guns,  8-in.  .s-iege  and  24-pdr 


[U 


garrison  ho'witzers,  8  and  10-in.  sea-c^ast  howitzers,  8 
and  10-in.  columbiads,  8  and  10-in.  siege,  and  10  arfd 
13-in.  sea-coast  moitars. 

NoTK. — The  24-pdr.  eprouvette  is  also  of  iron,  and  used  for  the 
proof  of  powder. 

10.  What   are   the   kinds  of  bronze  pieces  in  Use  at 
present  ?  • 


AllTILLELY   IN  GENERAL.  '11 

6  and  12-pdr.  field  guns  ;  12-pdr.  mountain  howitzer; 
12,  24  and  32-pdr.  field  howitzer? ;  stone  and  24-pdr. 
Coehorn   mortars. 

11.  What  is  a  battery? 

This  term  is  applied  to  one  or  more  pieces,  or  to  the 
place  where  they  are  served. 

12.  What  regulate  the  dimensions  of  cannon? 

The  tenacity  and  elasticity  of  the  metals  employed 
in  their  fabrication.  Their  thickness  must  be  propor- 
tioned to  the  effect  developed  by  the  powder;  and  the 
length  is  determined  by  experiment,  and  should  not  ex- 
ceed 24  calibres.  The  exterior  surface  of  a  cannon  is 
composed  of  several  surfaces,  more  or  less  inclined  to 
the  axis  of  the  bore,  the  forms  of  which  have  been  de- 
termined by  experiment. 

13.  Why  is  a  piece  made  stronger  near  the  breech 
than  towards  the  muzzle  ? 

Because  the  elastic  force  of  the  inflamed  gunpowder 
is  there  greatest,  constantly  diminishing  in  intensity  as 
the  space  increases  in  which  it  acts. 

14.  What  is  the  length  of  a  piece  ! 

The  distance  from  the  rear  of  the  base-ring  to  the 
face  of  the  piece. 

15.  What  is  the  extreme  length  ? 
From  the  rear  of  the  caseable  to  the  face. 


12] 


16.  What  is  the  bore  of  a  piece 


It  includes  the  part  bored  out,  viz:  the  cylinder,  the 
cham.ber  (if  there  is  one),  and  the  conical  or  spherical 
surface  connecting  them. 

17.  What  is  understood  by  the  calibre  of  a  piece? 
The  diameter  of  the  bore. 

18.  How  do  you  ascertain  the  number  of  calibres  in 
a  piece  ? 

Divide  the  length  of  the  cylinder,  in  inches,  by  the 
number  of  inches  in  the  calibre. 


12*  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

19.  The  number  of  calibres  b«ing  known,  how  do  you 
find  the  length  of  the  cylinder? 

Multiply  the  nuinbcr  of  calibres  by  the  calibre  in 
inches. 

20.  What  is  meant  by  the  sigAis  of  a  piece  ? 
Artificial  marks  on  the  piece  for  determining  the  line 

of  fire. 

21.  How  are  the  sights  determined  ? 

Usually  by  means  of  the  gunner's  ievel,  when  the 
trunnions  are  perfectly  horizontal. 

C2.  What  is  the  line  of  metal  or  the  natural  line  of 
sight  ? 

It  is  a  Hne  drawn  from  the  highest  point  of  the  base- 
ring  to  the  highest  point  on  the  swell  of  the  muzzle. 

23.  What  is  the  axis  of  a  piece  ? 

An  imaginary  line  passing  through  the  centre  of  the 
bore. 

24.  What  is  the  natural  angle  of  sight? 

It  is  the  angle  which  the  natural  line  of  sight  makes 
with  the  axis  of  the  piece. 

25.  What  is  the  dispart  of  a  piece  f 

It  is  the  difference  of  the  semi-diameter  of  the  ^^^ 
base-ring  and  the  swell  of  the  muzzle,  or  the  muzzle-  '- 
band.  It  is,  therefore,  the  tangent  of  the  natural  angle  of 
sight  to  a  radius  equal  to  the  distance  from  the  rear  of  the 
base-ring  to  the  highest  point  of  the  swell  of  the  muzzle, 
orthe  front  of  the  muzzle-band,  as  the  case  may  be,  mea- 
sured parallel  to  the  axis. 

26.  Give  the  nomenclature  of  a  piece  ? 

The  CASCABLE  is  the  part  of  the  gun  in  rear  of  the 
base-ring,  and  is  composed  generally  of  the  knob,  the 
ne^k,  the  fillet,  and  the  base  of  the  breech.  ^ 

Tha  BASE  OF  THE  BREECH  is  a  frustum  of  a  cone,  or 
a  spherical  segment  in  rear  of  the  breech. 

The  BASE-RING  is  a  projecting  band   of  metal  adjoin- 


ARTILLERY   IN  GENERAL.  13 

ing  the  base  of  the  breech,  and  connected  with  the 
body  of  the  gun  by  a  concave  moulding. 

The  BREECH  is  the  mass  of  solid  metal  behind  the 
bottom  of  the  bore,  extending  to  the  rear  of  the  base- 
ring. 

The  REINFORCE  is  the  thickest  part  of  the  body  of 
the  gun,  in  front  of  the  breech  ;  if  there  be  more  than 
one  reinforce,  that  which  is  next  the  breech  is  called 
XhQ first  reinforce;  the  other  the  second  reinforce. 

The  REINFORCE  BAND  is  at  the  junction  of  the  first 
and  second  reinforces  in  the  heavy  howitzers  and  col- 
umbiads. 

The  CHASE  is  the  conical  part  of  the  gun  in  front  of 
the  reinforce. 

The  ASTRAGAL  AND  FILLETS  in  field  guns,  and  the 
chase  Hng  in  other  pieces,  are  the  mouldings  at  the 
front  end  of  the  chase. 

The  NECK  is  the  smallest  part  of  the  piece  in  j-^^ 
front  of  the  astragal  or  the  chase  ring.  ^ 

The  SWELL  OF  THE  MUZZLE  is  the  largest  part  of  the 
gun  in  front  of  the  neck.  It  is  terminated  by  the  muz- 
zle mouldings,  which  in  field  and  siege  guns,  consist  of 
the  lip  ^nd  fillet,  In  sea-coast  guns  and  heavy  howit- 
zers and  columbiads,  there  is  no  fillet.  In  field  and 
siege  howitzers,  and  in  mortars,  a  muzzle-band  i^kes  the 
place  of  the  swell  of  the  muzzle. 

The  FACE  of  the  piece  is  the  terminating  plane  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis  of  the  bore. 

The  TRUNNIONS  are  cylinders,  the  axis  of  which  are 
in  a  line  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  bore,  and  in 
the  same  plane  with  that  axis. 

The  RiMBASES  are  short  cylinders  uniting  the  trun- 
nions with  the  body  of  the  gun.  The  ends  of  the  rim- 
bases,  or  the  shoulders  of  the  trunnions,  are  planes  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis  of  the  trunnions. 


14  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

The  BORE  of  the  jiiece  includes  all  the  part  bored  out, 
viz:  the  cylinder,  the  chamber  (if  there  is  one),  and 
the  conical  or  spherical  surface  connecting  them. 

The  CHAMBER  in  howitzers,  columbiad.s  and  mortars, 
is  the  smallest  pait  of  the  bore,  and  contains  the  charge 
of  powder.  In  the  howitzers  and  columbiads,*  the 
chamber  is  cylindrical  ;  and  is  united  with  the  large 
cylind(M-  of  the  bore  by  a  conical  surface;  the  angles  of 
intersection  of  this  conical  surface  with  the  cylinders  of 
the  bore  and  chamber,  are  rounded  (in  profile)  by  arcs 
-^1  of  circles.  In  the  8-inch  siege  howitzer,  the  cham- 
'  -'  ber  is  united  with  the  cylinder  of  the  bore  by  a 
spherical  surface,  in  order  that  the  shell  may,  when  ne- 
cessary, be  inserted  without  a  sabot. 

The  BOTTOM  OF  THE  BORE  (to  facilitate  sponging)  is 
a  plane  perpendicular  to  the  axis,  united  with  the  sides 
(in  piofile)  by  an  arc  of  a  circl^,  the  radius  of  which  is 
one-fourth  of  the  diameter  of  the  bore  at  the  bottom.  In 
the  columbiads,  the  heavy  sea-coast  mortars,  stone  mor- 
tar, and  eprouvette,  the  bottom  of  the  bore  is  hemis- 
pherical. 

The  MUZZLE  or  mouth  of  the  bore  is  chambered  to  a 
depth  of  0.15  inch  to  0.5  inch  (varying  with  the  size  of 
the  bore),  in  order  to  prevent  abrasion,  and  to  facilitate 
loading. 

The  TRUE  WINDAGE  is  the  difference  between  the 
true  diameters  of  the  bore  and  of  the  ball. 

27.  What  is  the  vent? 

The  aperture  through  which  fire  is  communicated  to 
the  char2:c. 

28.  What  is  to  be  observed  in  reference  to  the  diam- 
eter of  the  vent } 

*  The  now  eoluiubiacl  is  made  without  a  chamber. 


ARTILLERY  IN   GENERAL.  IS 

It  should  be  as  small  as  the  use  of  the  priming  wire 
and  tube  will  allow. 

29.  Why? 

As  the  velocity  of  the  gases  arising  from  the  combus- 
tion of  the  powder  is  extremely  great,  a  large  amount 
escapes  through  the  vent,  which  contributes  nothing  to 
the  velocity  of  the  projectile..  It  therefore  follows,  that 
the  effect  produced  by  a  given  charge  will  diminish  as 
as  the  diameter  of  the  vent  increases.  Besides,  on  ac- 
count of  the  increase  of  power  in  the  current  that  escapes 
from  them,  large  vents  are  more  rapidly  injured  than 
small  ones. 

30.  What  is  the  diameter  of  the  vent  ^  r-.Q 
0.2  of  an  inch  in  all  pieces  except  the  eprouvette,   L 

in  which  it  is  0.1. 

31.  What  is  the  position  of  the  axis  of  the  vent? 
The  axis  of  the  vent,  is  in  a  plane  passing  through 

the  axis  of  the  bore,  perpendicular  to  the  axis  ol  the 
trunnions.  In  guns^  and  in  howitzers  having  cylindrical 
chambers,  the  vent  is  placed  at  an  angle  of  80°  with 
the  axis  of  the  bore,  and  it  enters  the  bore  at  a  distance 
from  the  bottom  equal  to  one-fourth  the  diameter  of  the 
bore.  As  this  inclination  renders  it  easy  to  pull  the 
friction  tube  out  of  the  vent,  that"  of  the  new  12-pdr. 
field-gun,  and  the  new  columbiads  has  been  placed  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis. 

32.  What  are  the  quarter' sights  of  a  piece  ? 
Divisions  marked  on  the   upper  quarters  of  the   base 

ring,  commencing  where  it  would  be  intersected  by  a 
plane  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece,  and  tangent  to 
the  upper  surface  of  the  trunnions. 

Note. — Not  used  in  our  service. 

33.  To  what  use  sire  the  quarter-sights  applied  ? 

For  giving  elevations  up  to  thre^e  degrees,  but  espe- 


16  HANDrBOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

cially  for  pointing  a  piece  at  a  less  elevation  than  the 
natural  anjrle  of  i^ijrht. 

34.  What  is  a  breech-sis'ht} 

o 

An  instrument  having  a  graduated  scale  of  tangents, 
by  iT'.eaus  of  which  any  elevation  inay  be  given  to  a 
piece. 

35.  How  are  the  divisions  of  the  tange-nt  scale  found  ? 
By  taking  the  length  of  the  piece,  from  the  rear  of  the 

base-rino^  to  the  swell  of  the  muzzle,  measured  on  a  line 
parallel  to  the  axis,  an(i  multiplying  it  by  the  natural  (-^« 
tangent  of  as  many  degrees  as  may  be  required  ;  and  L 
then  deduct  the  di.-part.  Thus,  for  5°  elevation,  and  the 
gun  supposed  to  be  5  feet,  or  60  inches  long,  multiply 
.08748,  which  is  the  natural  tangent  of  5°,  by  60;  the 
product  gives  5.2488  inches  ,  supposing  the  dispart  to 
be  1  inch,  the  graduating  of  the  tangent  scale  will  be 
4.2488  inches. 

36.  With  what  pieces  are  breech-sights  used.'* 
Guns  and  howitzers. 

37.  What  is  a  pendulum  hausse  ?: 

It  is  a  tangent-scale,  the  graduations  of  which  are  the 
tangents  of  each  quarter  of  a  degree  of  elevation,  to  a 
radius  equal  to  the  distance  between  the  muzzle-sight 
of  the  piece,  and  the  axis  of  vibration  of  the  hausse, 
which  is  one  inch  in  rear  of  the  ba<se-ring.  At  the 
lower  end  of  the  scale  is  a  brass  bulb  filled  with  lead. 
The  slide?-  which  marks  the  divisions  on  the  scale  is  of 
thin  brass,  and  is  clamped  at  any  desired  division  on 
the  scale  by  means  of  a  screw\  The  scale  passes 
through  a  slit  in  a  piece  of  steel,  with  which  it  is  con- 
nected by  a  screwy  forming  a  pivot  on  which  the  scale 
can  vibrate  laterally.  This  piece  of  steel  terminates  in 
pivots,  by  means  of  which  the  pendulum  is  supported 
on  the  seat  attached  to  the  gun,  and  is  at  liberty  to  vi- 
brate in  the  direction  of  the  axis  of  the  piece.     The  seat 


ARTILLERY  IN   GENERAL.  17 

is  of  metal,  and  is  fastened  to  the  base  of  the  breech  by 
screws,  so  that  the  centres  of  the  steel  pivots  of  vibra- 
tion shall  be  at  a  distance  from  the  axis  of  the  piece 
equal  to  the  radius  of  the  base  ring. 

A  MUZZLE-SIGHT  of  iron  is  screwed  into  the  swell  of 
^Q-|   the  muzzle  of  guns,  or  into  the  middle  of  the  muz- 

-'  zle-ring  of  howitzers.  The  height  of  this  sight  is 
equal  to  the  dispart  of  the  piece,  so  that  a  line  joining 
the  muzzle-sight  and  the  pivot  of  the  tangent-scale  is 
parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece. 

38.  What  is  a  gunner  s-level,  or  gunner's  perpendi- 
cular ? 

An  instrument  made  of  sheet-brass  :  the  lower  part 
is  cut  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  the  points  of  which  are 
made  of  steel;  a  small  spirit-level  is  fastened  to  one 
side  of  the  plate,  parallel  to  the  line  joining  the  points 
of  the  crescent,  and  a  slider  is  fastened  to  the  same  side 
of  the  place,  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  tbe  Jevel, 

39.  What  is  it  used  for  ? 

To  mark  the  points  of  sight  on  pieces. 

40.  What  is  d. plummet  1 

A  simple  line  and  bob  for  pointing  mortars. 

41.  What  is  a  gufuier's  quadrant! 

It  is  a  graduated  quarter  oi  a  circle  of  sheet-brass,  at- 
tached to  a  brass  rule  18  inches  long.  It  has  a  vernier 
turning  on  a  pivot,  to  which  is  attached  a  spirit-level. 
To  get  a  required  elevation,  the  vernier  is  fixed  at  the 
indicated  degree,  the  brass  rule  is  then  inserted  in  the 
bore  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  piece  ;  the  gun  is  then 
elevated  or  depressed  until  the  level  is  horizontal. 

There  is  another  graduated  quadrant  of  wood,  of  6 
mches  radius,  attached  to  a  rule  23.5  inches  long.  It 
has  a  plumb-line  and  bob,  which  are  carried,  when  not 
in  use,  in  a  hole  in  the  end  of  the  rule,  covered  by  a 
brass  plate. 


18  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

42.  What  is  an  elet'aling  arc,  and  Its  use? 

It  is  an  arc  attached  to  the  rear  part  of  the  cheek  of 
a  gun-carriage,  having  its  centre  in  the  axis  of  the  ^^q 
trunnions;  the  arc  is  graduated  into  degrees  and  L 
parts  of  a  degree.  By  placing  the  axis  of  the  piece 
horizontal,  and  marking  the  breech  at  any  one  of  the 
divisions  on  the  arc,  any  elevation  or  depression  re- 
quired will  be  noted  by  the  number  of  degrees  below  Or 
above  this  mark.  It  turns  on  a  pivot  which  admits  of 
the  arc,  when  not  in  use,  being  placed  inside  the  cheek 
to  which  it  is  attached. 

43.  What  is  the  use  of  the  knob  of  the  cascable  ? 

To  facilitate  the  handling  of  the  piece  in  mounting 
and  dismounting  it,  and  moving  it  when  off  its  carriage. 

44.  Of  what  use  are  the  trunnions  of  a  piece  ? 

By  means  of  them  the  piece  is  attached  to  its  carriage  ; 
and  by  being  placed  near  the  centre. of  gravity,  it  is 
easily  elevated  or  depressed. 

45.  What  are  the  dolphins  of  a  piece  ? 

Two  handles  placed  upon  the  piece  with  their  cen- 
tres over  the  centre  of  gravity,  by  which  it  is  mounted 
or  dismounted. 

46.  Are  all  pieces  provided  with  dolphins? 

Only  the  12-pdr.  brass  guns,  and  the  24  and  32-pdr. 
brass  howitzers. 

47.  What  is  understood  by  the  preponderance  of  a 
piece  ? 

It  is  the  excess  af  weight  of  the  part  in  rear  of  the 
trunnions  over  that  in  front;  it  is  measured  by  the 
weight  which  it  is  necessary  to  apply  in  the  plane  of 
the  muzzle  to  balance  the  gun  when  suspended  freely 
on  the  axis  of  the  tiunnions. 

48.  Why  is  this  preponderance  given  } 

To  prevent  the   sudden   dipping   of  the  muzzle,   in 


ARTILLERY  IN   GENERAL.  19 

oA-|  firing,  and  violentiKoncussion  "on   the   carriage  at 
^   the  bTeech. 

49.  What  is  bushing  a  piece  of  artillery  ? 
Inserting  a  piece  of  metal  about  an  inch  in  diameter 

(near  the  bottom  of  the  bore,)  through  the  centre  of 
which  the  vent  has  been  previously  drilled.  It  is 
screwed  in. 

50.  What  kind  of  metal  is  used  for  bushing  bronze 
pieces  ? 

Pure  copper  always,  which  is  not  so  liable  to  run 
from  heat  as  gun  metal. 

51.  What  is  the  object  of  bushing  a  piece  ? 

To  prevent  deterioration  of  the  vent,  or  provide  a 
new  one  when  this  has  already  occurred. 

52.  Is  all  new  artillery  bushed  ? 

No,  only  bronze  pieces,  and  iron  pieces,  only  when 
repeated   firing  has  rendered  it  absolutely  necessary. 

53.  How  is  artillery  rendered  unservicable  ? 

1.  Drive  into  the  vent  a  jagged  and  hardened  steel 
spike  with  a  soft  point,  or  a  nail  without  a  head  ;  break 
it  off  flush  with  the  outer  surface,  and  clinch  the  point 
inside  by  means  of  the  rammer. 

.  II.  Wedge  a  shot  in  the  bottom  of  the  bore  by  wrap- 
ping it  with  felt,  or  b}'  means  of  iron  wedges,  using  the 
rammer  or  a  bar  of  iron  to  drive  them  in. 

III.  Cause  shells  to  burst  in  the  bore  of  bronze  guns. 

IV.  Fire  broken  shot  from  them  with   large  charges. 

V.  Fill  the  piece  with  sand  over  the  charge,  to  burst 
it. 

VI.  Fire  a  piece  against  another,  muzzle  to  muzzle, 
or  the  muzzle  of  one  to  the  chase  of  the  other. 

n-j  I        VII.  Light  a  fire  under   the   chase   of  a   bronze 
■'   gun,  and  strike  on  it  with  a  sledge,  to  bend  it. 
VIII.  Break  off  the  trunnions  of  iron  guns  ;   or  burst 


20  IIAXD-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

them  by  fiiiiig  them  at  a   hig^  elevation,    with   heavy 
charges  and  fyll  of  shot.  • 

54.  State  how  to  unspike  a  piece. 

If  the  spike  is  not  screwed  in  or  clinched,  and  the 
bore  is  not  impeded,  put  in  a  charge  of  powder  ^  of 
the  weight  of  the  shot,  and  ram  junk  wads  over  it; 
laying  on  the  bottom  of  the  bore  a  slip  of  wood,  with 
a  groove  on  the  underside  containing  a  strand  of  quick- 
match,  by  which  fire  is  communicated  to  the  charge. 
In  a  brass  gun,  take  out  some  of  the  metal  at  the  up- 
per orifice  of  the  vent,  and  pour  sulphuric  acid  into  the 
groove,  and  let  it  stand  some  hours  before  firing.  If 
this  method,  several  times  repeated,  is  not  successful, 
unscrew  the  vent  piece  if  it  be  a  brass  gun  ;  and  if  an 
iron  one,  drill  out  the  spike,  or  drill  a  new  vent. 

55.  Explain  how  to  drive  out  a  shot  wedged  in  the 
bore. 

Unscrew  the  vent  piece,  if  there  be  one,-  and  drive 
in  wedges  so  as  to  start  the  shot  forward  ;  then  ram  it 
back  again  in  order  to  seize  the  wedge  with  a  hook  ;  or 
pour  in  powder,  and  fire  it  after  replacing  the  vent 
piece.  In  the  last  resort,  bore  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of 
the  breech,  drive  out  the  shot,  and  stop  the  hole  with 
a  screw.  .  * 

56.  What  is  scalinsj  a  piece  of  artillery  ? 
Flashing  off  a  small  quantity  of  powder  to   clean  out 

the  bore;   about  1-12  of  the  shot's  weight.     The  prac- 
tice i.s  discontinued. 

57.  Mow  are  cannon  in  our  service  marked  ? 

As  follows,  viz  :  The  nmnbcr  of  the  gun  and  the  in- 
itials of  the  inspector's  name  on  the  face  of  the  muzzle, 
— the  numbers  in  a  separate  series  for  each  kind  j-qo 
and  calibre  at  each  foundry  ;  the  initial  letters  of  ^ 
the  ?iame  of  the  founder,  and  of  the  foundry,  on  the 
end  of  the  right  trunnion ;  the  year  of  the  fabrication 


ARTILLERY  IN  GENERAL.  21 

on  the  end  of  the  left  trunnion;  the  foundry  jiumber  on 
the  end  of  the  right  rimbase,  above  the  trunnion;  ihe 
weight  of  ihe  piece  in  pounds  on  the  base  of  the  breech  : 
the  letters  U.  S.  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  piece,  near 
the  end  of  the  reinforce. 

58.  What  marks  are  used  to  designate  condemned 
pieces  ? 

Pieces  rejected  on  inspection  are  marked  X  C  on  the 
face  of  the  muzzle  ;  if  condemned  for  erroneous  di- 
mensions which  cannot  be  remedied,  add  X  D  ;  if  by 
powder  proof,  X  P;   if  by  water  proof,   X  W. 

59.  What  are  the  kinds  of  proof  which  artillery  mi^ 
undergo,  before  being  received  into  the  service  } 

1st.  They  are  guaged  as  to  their  several  dimensions, 
internal  and  external;  as  to  justness  and  position  of  the 
bore,  the  chamber,  vent,  trunnions,  <S"c. 

2d.  TheT  are  fired  with  a  regulated  charge  of  pow- 
der and  shot,  being  afterwards  searched  to  discover  ir- 
regularities or  holes  produced  by  thi  firing. 

3d.  By  means  of  engines,  an  endeavor  is  made  to 
force  water  through  them. 

4th.  They  are  examined  internally,  by  m^ans  of 
light  reflected  from  a  mirror. 

60.  Are  brass  cannon  liable  to  external  injury,  caus- 
ed by  service? 

^rt-|       They  are  little   subject  to  such   injury,    except 
J  from  the  bending  of  the  trunnions  sometimes,  after 
long  service  or  heavy  charges. 

Note. — Recent  experiments  at  Fort  Monroe  show  that  bras? 
guns  when  rifled,  and  fired  with  large  charges  and  heavy  shot,  ex- 
pand so  much  that  the  projectile  does  not  take  the  grooves. 

61.  What  are  the  ca  ises  of  internal  injury? 
Internal  injuries  are  caused  by  the  action  of  the  elas- 
tic fluids  developed  in  the   combustion   of  the   powder, 


^22 


HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 


or  by  the  action  of  the  f^hot  in  passing  out  of  the  bore. 

62.  Name  the  injuries  of  the  first  kind. 
Eiila?'gcmejit  of  the  bore  by  the   conipreb-sion   of  the 

metal  ;  con-osion  of  the  metal  at  the  inner  orifice  of  the 
vent,  or  at  the  (T)outh  of  the  cylindrical  chamber; 
cracks,  from  the  yielding  of  the  cohesion  of  the  metal  ; 
cavities,  cracks  enlarged  by  the  action  of  the  gas,  and 
by  the  melting  of  the  metal,  observable  especially  in 
the  upper  surface  of  the  bore. 

63.  Name  those  of  the  second  kind. 

The  lodgment  of  the  shot, — a  compression  of  the 
njtetal  on  the  lower  side  of  the  bore,  at  the  seat 'of  the 
shot,  which  is  caused  by  the  pressure  of  the  gas  in  es- 
caping over  the  top  of  the  shot.  There  is  a  corres- 
ponding iwn*  in  front  of  the  lodgment;  and  the  mo- 
tion thereby  given  to  the  shot  causes  it  to  strike  alter- 
nately on  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  bore,  producing 
other  enlargements,  generally  three  in  numbei-*:  the  first, 
on  the  upper  side  a  iittle  in  advance  of  the  trunnions  ; 
the  second,  on  the  lower  side  about  the  astragal ;  the 
third,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  muzzle  ;  it  is  chiefly 
from  this  cause  that,  brass  guns  become  unservicable. 
oi-|    Scratches,    caused   by  the    fragments    of  a  broken 

■^  shot,  or  the  roughness  of  an  imperfect  one  ;  en- 
largement  of  the  muzzle  by  the  striking  of  the  shot  in 
leaving  the  bore ;  external  cracks,  ov  longitudinal  slits, 
caused  by  two  great  a  compression  of  the  metal  on  the 
inside. 

64.  When  is  a  piece  said  to  be  honeycombed  ? 

.  When  the  surface  of  the  bore   is   full  of  small   holes 
or  cavities. 

6.5.  To  what  is  this  due  ? 

To  the  melting  and  volatilization  of  a  portion  of  the 
tin  in  the  alloy;  tin  being  much  more  fusible  than  cop- 
per. 


ARTILLERY  IN   GENERAL.  23 

66.  Do  lodgments  cause  an  inaccuracy  of  fire  ? 
They  do. 

67.  How  may  this  in  a  measure  be  remedied  ? 

By  using  a  wad  over  the  cartridge,  in  order  to  change 
the  place  of  the  shot ;  or  by  wrapping  the  shot  in  wool- 
len cloth  or  paper,  so  as  to  diminish  the  windage.  In 
field  guns,  the  paper  cap  which  is  taken  off  the  cart- 
ridge should  always  be  put  over  the  shot. 

68.  To  what  injuries  are  iron  cannon  subject? 

To  the  above  defects  in  a  less  degree  than  brass,  ex- 
cept the  corrosion  of  the  metal,  by  which  the  vent  is 
rendered  unserviceable  from  enlargement.  The  prin- 
cipal cause  of  injury  to  iron  cannon  is  the  rusting  of 
the  metal,  producing  a  roughness  and  enlargement  of 
the  bore,  and  an  increase  of  any  cavities  or  honeycombs 
which  may  exist  in  the  metal. 

69.  How  may  you  judge  of  the  service  of  an  iron 
gun.? 

Generally  by  the  appearance  of  the  vent. 

70.  What  rules  are  laid  down  for  the  preservation  of 
artillery  ? 

Cannon  should  be  placed  together,  according  to  ^^^ 
kind  and  calibre,  on  skids  of  stone,  iron,  or  wood,  L 
laid  on  hard  ground  well  rammed  and  covered  with  a 
layer  of  cinders  or  of  some  other  material  to  prevent 
vegetation.  In  case  of  guns  and  long  howitzers,  the 
pieces  should  rest  on  the  skids  in  front  of  the  base  ring 
and  in  rear  of  the  astragal,  the  axis  inclined  at  an  an- 
gle of  4°  or  5°  with  the  horizon,  the  muzzle  lowest,  the 
trunnions  touching  each  other;  or  the  trunnion  of  one 
piece  may  rest  on  the  adjoining  piece,  so  that  the  axis  of 
the  trunnions  may  be  inclined  about  45°  to  the  horizon; 
the  vent  down,  stopped  with  a  greased  wooden  plug, 
or  with  putty  or  tallow.  The  pieces  may  be  piled  in 
two  tiers,  with  skids  placed  between  them  exactly  over 


24  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

those  which  rest  on  the  ground  ;  the  muzzles  of  both 
tiers  in  the  same  direction  and  their  axes  preserving  the 
same  inclination.  In  case  of  short  howiizers  and  mor- 
tars, the  pieces  should  stand  on  their  muzzles,  resting 
on  thick  planks,  the  trunnions  touching,  the  vents  stop- 
ped. 

71.  What  additional  precautions  should  be  observed 
in  case  of  iron  pieces  ? 

They  should  be  covered  on  the  exterior  with  a  lacker 
impervious  to  water ;  the  bore  and  the  vent  showld  be 
greased  with  a  mixture  of  oil  and  in/low,  or  of  tallow 
and  bees'  wax  melted  together  and  boiled  to  expel  the 
water.  The  lacker  should  be  renewed  as  often  as  neces- 
sary, and  the  grease  at  least  once  a  year.  The  lacker 
and  grease  should  be  applied  in  hot  weather.  The  can-? 
non  should  be  frequently  inspected,  to  see  that  moisture 
does  not  collect  in  the  bore. 


PART  I.     SECTION  II. 


ON  GUNS. 

1.  What  are  Giois? 

Long  cannon  without  chambers. 

2.  How  are  guns  denominated  ? 

By  the  weight  of  their  respective  shot. 

3.  What  are  the  principal  parts  of  a  gun  ? 

The  cascable,  breech,  reinforce,  chase,  and  muzzle. 


GUNS.  25 

4.  What  proportion  usually  exists  between  the  length 
and  calibre  of  a  gun  ? 

It  varies  from  15  to  23  calibres, 

5.  What  proportion  does  the  dispart  of  a  gun  bear 
generally  to  its  length  ? 

About  a  sixtieth  part  in  field  guns,  about  a  thirtieth 
part  in  sea-coast,  and  about  a  thirty-eighth  part  in  siege 
and  garrison  guns. 

6.  What  is  the  natural  angle  of  sight  in  siege  and 
garrison  guns  ? 

One  degree  and  thirty  minutes. 

7.  What  is  it  in  field  guns  ? 
One  degree. 

8.  Why  have  sea-coast  guns  no  natural  line  of  sight  ? 
Because  the  swell  of  the  muzzle  is  not  visible  when 

the  eye  is  on  a  level  with  the  base  ring. 

9.  Upon  what  are  guns  mounted  ?   , 

On  field,  siege,  barbette,  or  casemate  carria^^es. 

10.  What  projectiles  are  used  with  guns  ?  [27 
Solid  shot,  spherical  case,  grape,  and  canister. 

11.  About  what  are  the  weights  of  the  different 
guns  ? 

6-pdr.,  884  lbs.  ;  brass  12-pdr..  1,757  lbs.  ;  iron  12- 
pdr.,  3,590  lbs.,;  18-pdr.,  4,913  lbs.;  24-pdr.,  5,790 
lbs.?  32-pdr.,  7,1^00  lbs.;  42-pdr.,  8,465  lbs. 

12.  Give  the  entire  length  of  the  several  guns. 
6-pdr.  field  gun,  65.6   inches;    12-pdr.    field  gun,   85 

inches;  12-pdr.  iron  gun,  116  inches;  18-pdT.,  123.125 
inches;  24-pdr.,  124  inches;  32-pdr.,  125.2  inches; 
42-pdr.,  129  inches. 


26  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

[28- 

PAKT  I.   SECTION  III. 


ON  HOWITZERS. 

1.  What  is  a  Howitzer  1 

A  chambered  piece,  of  lai'ger  calibre  than  a  gun  of* 
like  weight,  and  mounted  in  a  similar  manner. 

2.  What  form  of  chamber  is  given  to  howitzers  ? 
That  of  a  cylinder. 

3.  How  is  it  united  with  the  large  cylinder  of  the 
bore  ? 

By  a  conical  surface,  except  in  the  8-inch  siege  how- 
itzer, where  it  is  united  with  the  cylinder  of  the  bore 
by  a  spherical  nMvhce,  in  order  that  the  shell  may,  when 
necessary,  be  inserted  without  a  sabot. 

4'.  What  advantages  are  gained  by  the  employment 
of  howitzers  ? 

They  project  larger  shells  than  the  guns  with  which 
they  are  associated,  are  well  adapted  for  ricochet  fire, 
the  destruction  of  field  works,  breaking  down  palisades, 
and  setting  fire  to  buildings. 

5.  What  projectiles  are  used  with  howitzers? 
Shells  usually,   spherical  case,   canister,   grape,  and, 

carcasses.  i 

6.  Give  the  entire  length  of  the  several  howitzers? 
Iron    10-inch.    124.25   inches  ;  8-inch  sea-coast,  109 

inches  ;  8-inch  siege  and  garrison,  61.5  inches  ;  24-pdr. 
0Q1  garrison,  69  inches  :  32-pdr.  field,  82  inches  ;  24- 
-^^J  pdr.  field,  71.2  inches  ;  12-pdr.  field,  58.6  inches  ; 
mountain,  12-pdr.,  37.21  inches. 


HOWITZERS.  27 

7.  What  is  the  weight  of  a  howitzer  of  each  kind  ? 
10-inch,   9,500   lbs.;  8-inch  sea-coast,  5,740  lbs.;  8- 

inch  siege  and  garrison,  2,614  lbs.;  24-pdr.  garrison, 
1,476  lbs.;  32-pdr.  field,  1,920  lbs.;  24-pdr.  field,  1,318 
lbs.;  12-pdr.  field,  788  lbs.;  12-pdr.  mountain,  220 
lbs. 

8.  What  is  the  natural  angle  of  sight  in  siege  and  gar- 
rison  and  field  howitzers  ?  i 

One  degree. 

9.  What  in  mountain  howitzers  ? 
Thirt3'-seven  minutes. 

10.  Why  have  sea-coast  howitzers  no  natural  line  of 
sight  ? 

Because  the  swell  of  the  muzzle  is  not  visible  when 
the  eye  is  on  a  level  with  the  base  ring. 


30] 

PART  I.    SECTION  lY. 


ON    COLUMBIADS. 

1.  W^ hat  is  a   Colnmbiadl 

A  gun  of  much  larger  calibre  than  the  ordinary  gun, 
used  for  throwing  solid  shot  or  shells. 

2.  What  are  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  gun  when 
mounted  in  barbette  ? 

Its  carriage  gives  a  vertical  field  of  fire  from  5°  de- 
pression to  39°  elevation  ;  and  a  horizonkil  field  of 
fire  of  360°. 

3.  Are  these  pieces  chambered  } 


28  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

Those  of  the  old   pattern  have  chambers  ;  but  they 
are  now  cast  without  any. 

4.  Give  the  weio^ht  of  this  piece  ? 
10-incb.  15,400  lbs.;  8-inch,  9,240  lbs. 

5.  What  is  the  entire  length  of  this  gun  ? 
10-inch,  126  inches  ;  8-inch,  124  inches. 

6.  What  is  the  natural  an2;le  of  sight  in  this  piece? 
8-inch,  r  23';   lO^inch,  1°  21'. 


[31 

PART  I.  SECTION  V. 


ON  MORTARS. 

1.  What  is  a  Mortar? 

The  shortest  piece  in  service ;  the  trunnions  are 
placed  in  rear  of  the  vent  at  the  breech  ;  the  bore  is 
very  large  in  proportion  to  the  length,  and  is  provided 
with  a  chamber. 

2.  What  are  the  principal  advantages  obtained  by  the 
employment  of  mortars  ? 

Reaching  objects  by  their  vertical  fire — such  as  a 
town,  battery,  or  other  place — whose  destruction  or  in- 
jury cannot  be  effected  by  direct  or  ricochet  fire  ;  dis- 
mounting the  enemy's  artillery  ;  setting  fire  to  and  over- 
throwing works;  blowing  up  magazines,  breaking 
through  tlie  roofs  of  barracks,  casemates,  &c.;  and  pro- 
ducing havoc  and  disorder  amongst  troops. 

3.  What  do  you  mean  by  vertical  fire  ? 


MORTAKS.  29 

That  produced  by  firing  the  mortar  at  a  high  eleva- 
tion. 

4.  What  are  its  advantages  ? 

The  shell  having  attained  a  great  elevation,  descends 
with  great  force  on  the  object,  in  consequence  of  the 
constant  action  of  the  force  of  gravity  on  it. 

5.  Why  are  mortars  constructed  stronger  and  shorter 
than  other  pieces  ? 

Because  greater  resistance  is  required  in  consequence 
oo-j   of  the  high  elevation  under  which  they  are  fired  ; 

-'  and  were  they  longer,  the  difficulty  experienced  in 
loading  them  would  become  too  great. 

6.  Why  is  a  mortar  constructed  with  a  chamber  ? 

In  consequence  of  employing  various  charges,  some 
very  small,  it  becomes  necessary  to  use  a  chamber  to 
concentrate  the  charge  as  much  as  possible,  so  that  the 
shell  may  be  acted  on  by  the  entire  expansive  force  of 
the  powder. 

7.  What  form  of  chamber  is  given  to  mortars  ? 
Usually  that  of  a  frustum  of  a  cone.     The  bottom  is 

hemispherical  in  the  sea-coast,  stone,  and  eprouvette 
mortars.  In  siege  mortars  it  is  a  plane  surface,  the 
angles  of  intersection  being  rounded  in  profile  by  arcs 
of  circles. 

8.  What  is  this  form  of  chamber  called  ? 
Gomer  chamber. 

9.  What  is  the  advantage  of  the  conical  over  the  cy- 
lindrical chamber? 

Cylindrical  chambers  are  objectionable,  as  the  projec- 
tile is  frequently  broken  in  consequence  of  the  small 
surface  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  charge.  This  de- 
fect is  obviated  by  large  chambers,  and  particularly  by 
those  that  are  conical,  in  which  the  charge  is  expended 
upon  nearly  a  hemisphere. 

10.  What  form  of  chamber  has  the  eprouvette ; 


30  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

That  of  a  cylinder,  it  being  the  only  mortar  whose 
chamber  is  of  this  shape. 

11.  How  are  mortars  mounted? 
On  beds  of  wood  or  iron. 

12.  What  is-  the  object  of  mounting  mortars  on  beds 
in  preference  to  wheel  carriages? 

On  account  of  the  high  elevation  at  which  they  are 
qqn   usuallj  fired,  w'hen   the  recoil,  instead   of  forcing 

-J  the  piece  backwards,  tends  to  force  it  downwards, 
and  this  tendency  becomes  so  great  at  the  higher  angles 
that  no  wheel-carriage  could  long  sustain  the  shock. 

13.  What  is  the  entire  length  of  each  mortar?. 

13-inch,  53  inches  ,  10-inch  sea-coast,  46  inches  ;  10- 
inch  siege,  28  inches;  8-inch,  32.5  inches;  stone 
mortar,  31.55    inches;   coehorn,  16.32    inches. 

14.  What  aie  the  weights  of  mortars  ? 

13-in.,  11,500  lbs.;  lO-in.  sea-coast,  5,775  lbs. ;  10- 
in.  siege,  1,852  lbs.;  8-in.,  930  lbs.;  stone  mortar, 
1,500  lbs.;  coehorn,  164  lbs,;  eprouvette,  220  lbs. 

15.  What  are  the  weights  of  the  different  mortar  beds? 
8-in.  siege,  920  lbs. ;   10-in.  siege,  1,830  lbs.  ;  coe- 
horn, 132  lbs. ;  eprouvette,  280  lbs. 

16.  What  the  diameters  of  the  bores  of  the  stone, 
coehorn,  and  eprouvette  mortars  ? 

Stone  mortar,  16  inches;  coehorn,  5.82  inches; 
eprouvette,  5.655  inches. 

17.  What  is  the  length  of  the  bore,  exclusive  of  the 
chamber,  of  the  different  mortars  ? 

13-in.,  26  inches;  10-in.  sea-coast,  25  inches;  10-in. 
siege,  15  inches  ;  8-in.,  12  inches  ;  stone  mortar,  19.8 
inches  ;    coehorn,  8.82  inches  ;  eprouvette,  11.5  inches. 

18.  What  is  the  length  of  the  chamber  of  the  differ* 
ent  mortars  ? 

13-in.,  13  inches  ;10-in.  sea-coast,  10-in. ;  10-in.  siege, 


MORTARS.  31 

5  inches  ;  8-in.,  4  inches  ;  stone  mortar,   6.75  inches ; 
coehorn,  4.25  inches;  eprouvette,  1.35  inches. 

19.  For  what  purpose  is  the  eprouvette  used  ?        j-^^ 
For  determining  the    relative  strength  of  gun-    L 

powder  ? 

20.  To  what  purpose  is  a  stone  mortar  applied  ? 

To  throw  stones  a  short  distance,  from  150  to  250 
yards ;  and  also  6-lb.  shells  from  50  to  150  yards. 

21.  In  what  manner  are  the  stones  disposed  in  this 
mortar  ^ 

They  are  put  into  a  basket  fitted  to  the  bore,  and 
placed  on  a  wooden  bottom  which  covers  the  mouth  of 
the  chamber. 

22.  What  use  is  made  of  coehorn  mortars  } 

They  are  fired  either  from  behind  intrenchments  like 
other  mortars,  or  they  may  accompany  troops  in  effect- 
ing lodgments  in  towns  and  fortified  places. 

23.  What  kind  of  projectiles  are  thrown  from  mor- 
tars } 

.  Shells,  fire-balls,  carcasses,  and  stones. 

24.  How  rapidly  may  siege  mortars  be  fired  ? 

At  the  rate  of  twelve  rounds  per  hour  continuously; 
and  in  case  of  need  with  greater  rapidity. 


32  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 


35] 

PART  I.     SECTION  VL 


SEA-COAST  ARTILLERY. 

1.  How  are  Sea-coast  pieces  mounted? 

On  barbette,  casemate,  flank-casemate,  and  colum- 
biad  carriages;  and  the  carriage  upon  which  the  mortar 
is  mounted — called  its  bed.  These  carriages  do  not 
subserve  the  purpose  of  transportation  ;  the  barbette 
carriage  may,  however,  be  used  for  moving  its  piece  for 
short  distances,  as  from  one  front  of  the  work  to  an- 
other. 

2.  What  number  and  kind  of  pieces  are  required  for 
the  armaments  of  forts  on  the  seaboard  ? 

In  our  service  they  are  prescribed  by  the  War  De- 
partment, according  to  the  character  and  extent  of  the 
work. 

3.  What  disposition  should  be  made  of  heavy  and 
light  pieces  in  a  fortification  ? 

Heavy  pieces  should  be  employed  on  the  salients  of 
the  work,  or  for  enfilading  channels  where  a  long  range 
is  required  ,  light  pieces,  where  the  range  is  shorter. 


36] 


SIEGE    ARTILLERY.  33 

PAKT  I.    SECTION  VII. 


SIEGE  ARTILLERY. 

1.  How  are  siege-guns  mounted  ? 

■"    Usually  on  travelling-carriages,  with  limbers. 

2.  Of  what  number  and  kind  of  pieces  is  a  siege- 
train  composed  ? 

This  must  altogether  depend  on  circumstances ;  but 
the  following  general  principles  may  be  observed  in  as- 
signing the  proportion  of  different  kinds  and  calibres, 
and  the  relative  quantity  of  other  supplies  for  a  train  of 
100  pieces  : 

p  124-pdr.,  about  one-half  the  whole  uumber,  -        50 

^^^^"  /18-pdr.  or  12-pdr.,  one-tenth.  -  -         10 

Howitzers.     8-in.  siege,  one-fourth,  -  -        25 

M~  rsin:  iir """""' -      -    -  '3 

Wall  Pieces,  -----  -        40 

CARRIAGES. 

For  24-pdr.  guns,  and  8-in.  howitzers,  one-fifth  spare         .        90 

For  18-pdr.  and  12-pdr.  guns,         -  -  _  -         12 

r.H-,    For  10-in.  mortars  and  stone  mortars,  one  sixth  spare,         21 

-^  For  8-in.  mortars,  .  _  -         -  -4 

Mortar  Wagons^  1  for  each  10-in.  mortar  and  bed,  for  each 

stone  mortar  and  bed,  and  for   three  8-in.  mortar   and 

beds,  .  -  -  -  -  .-38 

Wagons  for  transporting  implements,  intrenching  and  mi- 
ner's tools,  laboratory  tools  and  utensils  and  other  stores, 
each  loaded  with  about  2,700  lbs.,  say,  -  -       140 

Carts  (carrying  balls,  &c.,  on  the  march),  -  -         50 

Park  battery-wagons,  fully  equipped,  -  -         28 

Parkforges,  -----  -  8 

Sling-carts,  large,  -  -  .  -  -5 

Do.        hand,  -  _  -  -  ^4 


34  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

DRAUGHT  HORSES. 


each  gun  and  liowitzer. 

with  its 

carriage, 

- 

8 

"     Sparc  gun-carriage, 

- 

- 

6 

•'     Moftar  w-agon, 
'♦     Battery  wagon, 
"     Forge, 
"     Cart, 

- 

- 

- 

8 
6 
6 
2 

"    Sling-cart  large, 
''        Spare  horses, 

~ 

- 

" 

2 

1-lOth 

Total,  about  1,900  horses. 

PROJECTILES  AND  AMMUNITION. 

rRonnd-shot,   800  to  each  24-pdr.,  1,000  to  each  18 
and  12  pdr. 
For  Guns.  -{  Grape    and   canisters  strapped,  20   rounds  to  each 
I      piece. 
[  Spherical-case  strapped,  20  rounds  to  each  piece. 

38] 

{Shells,  800  to  each  8-in.  ho\<'itzer. 
Canister  strapped,  5  to  each. 
Spher.  case  strapped,  20  to  each. 
{600  shells  to  each  10-inch. 
860      "  "      8-inch. 

200      "  "     Coeiiorn. 

Gunpowder,  in  barrels,  500,000  lbs. 

Computing  for  each  24-pdr.  round  shot,  one-third  the  weight  of  shot. 
"  •'        18   and    r2-pdr.   round    shot,    one-fourth   the 

weight  of  shot. 
"  *'        grape,  canister  and  spherical   case,   one-sixth 

the  weight  of  shot. 
"  "        round  of  howitzer    ammunition, 

5  lbs. 
''  '•        round  10-in.  mortar  ammunition, 

7  lbs._ 
"  "        round  8-in.  mortar  ammunition. 

3  lbs. 
"  "        round  Coehorn  mortar  ammunition,  ^  lb. 

"  "        round  stone  mortar  ammunition,  1  lb. 


including 
-charge  of 
shell. 


SIEGE  ARTILLERY.  35 

8.  What  is  the  best  position  for  guns  in  order  to  make 
a  breach  ? 

On  the  glacis,  within  15  or  16  feet  of  its  cr^st ;  but  if 
the  foot  of  the  revetment  cannot  be  seen  from  thence, 
the  guns  must  be  placed  in  the  covered  way,  within  15 
feet  of  the  counterscarp. 

4.  In  what  manner  should  the  fire  of  siege  guns  be 
conducted  in  order  to  form  a  breach  ? 

1st.  Make  a  horizontal  section  the  length  of  the  de- 
„Q-|   sired  breach  along  the  scarp,  at  one-third  its  height 

-J  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch,  and  to  a  depth  equal 
to  the  thickness  of  the  wall. 

2d.  Make  vertical  cuts  through  the  wall,  not  farther 
than  ten  yards  apart,  and  not  exceeding  one  to  each 
piece  of  ordnance,  beginning  at  the  horizontal  section 
and  ascending  gradually  to  the  top  of  the  wall. 

3d.  Fire  at  the  most  prominent  parts  of  the  masonry 
left  standing;  beginning  always  at  the  bottom  and  grad- 
ually approaching  the  top. 

4th.  Fire  into  the  broken  mass  with  howitzers  until 
the  breach  is  practicable. 

5.  How  long  will  it  take  to  make  a  breach  of  20  yards 
in  length  ? 

Breaches  of  more  than  20  yards  in  length  have  been 
opened  by  way  of  experiment,  and  rendered  practicable 
in  less  than  ten  hours,  by  about  two  hundred  and  thirty 
24-pdr.  balls  and  forty  shells  in  one  case,  and  by  three 
hundred  18-pdr.  balls  and  forty-shells  in  another. 

6.  How  many  discharges  can  an  iron  gun  sustain  .'' 
An  iron  gun  should  sustain  twelve  hundred  discharges, 

at  the  rate  of  twelve  an  hour ;  but  whatever  may  be  the 
rate  of  fire,  it  is  deemed  unsafe  after  that  nuinber  of  dis- 
charges. As  many  as  twenty  an  hour  have  been  made 
for  sixteen  consecutive  hours, 


36  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 


PART  I.   SECTION  VIII. 


[40 


ON  FIELD-GUNS  AND  BATTERIES. 

1.  What  proportion  of  artillery  should  be  allotted  to 
an  army  in  the  field .'' 

The  proportion  of  artillery  to  other  troops  varies  gen- 
erally between  the  limits  of  one 'and  three  pieces  to 
1,000  men,  according  to  the  strength  of  the  army,  the 
character  of  the  troops  composing  it,  the  strength  and 
character  of  the  enemy,  the  nature  of  the  country  which 
is  to  be  the  theatre  of  the  war,  and  the  character  and 
objects  of  the  war. 

2.  What  regulates  the  selection  of  the  kinds  of  ar- 
tillery and  the  proportion  of  the  different  kinds  lin  the 
train  ? 

vSimilar  considerations  to  those  specified  in  the  fore- 
going answer.  The  following  principles  may  be  ob- 
served in  ordinary  cases  : 


pieces 


,r|  guns,  of  which       {|-fJX"- 


1,000  men.|^,^^,^^^  of  which {|    ^  ,\^%2-P^"; 

3.  What  is  a  field  battery  ? 

A  certain  number  of  pieces  of  artillery  so  equipped  as 
to  be  available  for  attack  or  defence,  and  capable  of  ac- 
companying cavalry  or  infantry  in  all  their  movements 
in  the  field, 

4.  How  many  pieces  are  allotted  to  a  field-battery? 
Four  guns  and  two  howitzers. 


FIELD-GUNS    AND    BATTERIES.  37 

.^-|        5.  Are  all  field-batteries  alike  ? 

-'  No;  field-batteries  accompanying  infantry  are 
composed  of  the  heavier,  and  tho:-e  accompanyins:  cav- 
alry of  the  lighter  pieces,  the  first  manned  by  foot-ar- 
tillery, and  the  latter  by  horse-artillery. 

6.  In  what  respect  does  a  battery  of  horse-artiller}' 
differ  from  one  of  foot-artillery  ? 

The  main  difference  consists  in  the  cannoneers  in  a 
battery  of  horse-aitillery  being  mounted;  in  rapid  evo- 
lutions of  foot-artlUery  they  are  conveyed  on  the  car- 
riages. 

7.  What  is  the  composition  of  a  field-battery  on  the 
war  establishment  ? 

KIND    OF    BATTERY. 
GuNF    ^  12-pdrs.,  mounted, 


NS.   \  \2-pdrs 
\    C-pdrs 

Howitzers.  {j^:|*;j;'"°",? 

/  For  guns, 
(For  howitzers, 


ted. 


-PDR 

6-PDR 

4 

'  4 

2 

2 

,     n 

8 

'     0 

4 

4 

2 
—   12 
1 

1 

1 

1 

Caissons. 

Travelltxg  Fouges, 
Battery  Wagon, 

2 

Whole  No.  of  Carriages  with  a  battery, ,    -  20         14 

For  4 


r  Shot,       - 
guns.  <  S[iher.  case, 
(Canisters, 


r  Shells, 
For  2  howitzers,  -|  Spher.  case, 
(  Canisters, 


Total  No.  rounds  with  a  battery, 
B 


-  5G0 

560 

-  224 

80 

-  112 

160 



896 

800 

-  168 

120 

112 

160 

-   42 

32 

322 

312 

1218 

1112 

88  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 


[42 

KIND    OF   BATTERY.  12-PDR.  6-PDR. 

r-  ,,  r  6  to  each  carriage,  120  84 

Draught  Horses.  | g^^^.^  ^^^^^^^^  ^_\^^^  j^  ^ 

Total,  130  91 

Note. — For  two  32-pdr.  howitzer  carriages  and  4  caissons,  the 
number  of  rounds  of  ammunition  is  : 

Shells,  -  -  -  -  112 

Spher.  case,  -  -  -  -  84 

Canisters,       -  -  -  -  14 

Total,  210 

8.  What  is  the  composition  of  a  battery  of  mountain 
howitzers? 

Howitzers,             -----  6 

Gun-carriages,    ,  -                -                -                -  -  t 

Ammunition-chests,             -                -                -  -  36 

(48  rounds  for  each  howitzer.) 

Forge  and  tools,  in  2  chests,                 -                -  -  1 

iSet  of  carriage-makers'  tools  in  2  chests,            -  -  I 

Pack  saddles  and  harness,                   -                -  -  33 

Horses  or  mules,                   -                -                -  -  33 

9.  What  composes  the  Field-Park? 

The  spare  carriages,  reserved  supplies  of  ammuni- 
tion, tools,  and  materials  for  extensive  repairs,  and  for 
makino:  up  ammunition,  for  the  service  of  an  army  in 
the  field  from  the  Field-Park,  to  which  should  be  at- 
tached also  the  batteries  of  reserve. 

10.  Wiiat  determines  the  quantity  of  such  supplies  ? 
The  quantities   of  such   supplies   must   depend    in   a 

gieat   measure   on   the   particular  circumstances  of  the 
campaign. 

11.  How  is  the  ammunition  which  cannot  be  trans- 
ported by  the  batteries  carried  .? 

With  the  park;  in  caissons,  or  in  store-wagons. 


FIELD-GUNS   AND     BATTERIES.  39 

12.  Do  any  other  carriages  and  stores  form  part  j- .„ 
of  the  Field-Park?  ^ 

Yes :  spare  gun-carriages,. one  to  each   field-battery, 

„  ,,        C,.       *     '  >  one  or  more  of  each. 
Battery  Wagons,     ) 

Spare  spokes,  50  to  each  battery,     ^ 
Spare  fe/lies,  20  to  each  battery, 
Spare  harness,  )        in 

Horse-shoes  and  nails,  ^  boxes. 
Gunpowder,  saltpetre,  sulphur,  charcoal,  laboratory  pa- 
per, cannon-primers,  (percussion  and  friction,)  fuzes 
and  plugs  for  field-service,  slufFfor  cartridge  bags,  wool- 
len yarn,  cotton  yarn,  glue. 

13.  Are  any  other  pieces  ever  used  for  field  ser- 
vice ? 

Yes;  sometimes  the  12  and  18-pdr.  siege  guns,  and 
8-in.  siege  howitzer. 

14.  For  what  particular  service  are  these  different 
pieces  most  suitable  ? 

The  siege  pieces  for  batteries  of  position  ;  the  12^-pdr. 
battery,  for  following  the  movements  of  infantry,  and 
the  6-pdr.  battery  for  those  of  cavalry. 

Note. — These  siege  pieces  should  be  placed  on  the  weakest 
points  of  a  line,  and  on  heights  which  either  for.m  a  key  to  the 
position,  or  from  whence  the  greatest  and  longest  continued  effect 
may  be  produced. 

15.  What  are  the  peculiar  advantages  of  Horse  Artil- 
lery ? 

Possessing  from  their  lighter  construction  and  mounted 
detachments,  much  greater  locomotive  powers  than 
other  field  batteries,  they  are  especially  adapted  for 
following  the  rapid  evolutions  of  cavalry,  for  sudden 
attacks  upon  particular  points,  and  for  suppoiting  the 
advance  or  covering  the  retreat  of  an  army. 
b2 


40  HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTJLLERY. 

.  «-|        16.  How  is  a  field  gun  mounted  r 

-'  Upon  a  four-wheel  caniaoje,  which  answers  for  its 
transportation  as  well  as, for  its  service,  similar  to  a 
•>iege  cariiage,  but  lighter,  and  the  limber  carrying  an 
ammunition  chest. 

17.  Where  should  a  battery  be  placed  before  the  com- 
mencement of  an  action  ? 

As  much  as  possible  under  cover,  by  taking  advan- 
tage of  banks,  hollow-ways,  buildings,  woods,  8cc. 

18.  Is  it  advisible  to  move  a  battery  at  once  into  po- 
sition in  the  field  ?  * 

No  ,  but  if  unavoidable,  it  should  be  masked  as  much 
as  possible  until  ordered  to  open  its  fire. 

19.  How  should  a  battery  be  masked  ? 

If  practicable,  by  covering  it  with  cavalry,  in  prefer- 
ence to  infantry,  as  the  former  does  it  more  effectually, 
and  is  sooner  moved  out  of  the  way. 

20.  In  commencing  an  action,  how  should  the  fire  of 
a  battery  be  directed  ? 

When  the  enemy  is  in  line,  the  fire  should  be  direct- 
ed over  the  whole  line,  and  not  upon  the  real  points  of 
attack  ;  but  when  in  column,  ready  to  advance,  it  should 
be  concentrated  upon  the  real  points  of  attack. 

21.  How  should  batteries  be  placed  in  relation  to  the 
troops  with  which  they  are  acting? 

Upon  the  flanks  of  a  line,  but  at  such  a  distance  as 
not  to  impede  its  movements,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
be  unfettered  in  their  own  ;  the  artillery  may  thus  rep- 
resent the  faces  of  a  bastion,  and  the  line  of  troops  the 
curtain. 

22.  Is  the  front  of  a  line  of  troops  an  advantageous 
position  for  a  field  battery  ? 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  the  worst  possible,  as  offering  a 
double  object  to  the  enemy's  fire,  and  greatly  obstruct- 


FIELD-GUNS    AND     BATTERIES.  41 

.;--,   ing  the  movements  of  the  troops   while  a  position 
-•   in  rear  is  nearly  as  bad,  as  the  fire  might  seriously 
injure,  or  at  least,  greatly  disquiet  them. 

23.  In  supporting  ati  attack,  what  precautions  are 
necessary  ? 

The  battery  should  be  carefully  kept  clear  of  the  in- 
tended' line  of  march  of  our  own  troops,  and  such  points 
occupied  as  may  afford  the  greatest  annoyance  to  the 
enemy. 

24.  How  should  batteries  be  disposed  with  regard  to 
the  enemy's  troops? 

Generally  so  as  to  secure  a  cross  fire  on  his  position, 
and  on  all  the  ground  over  which  he  moves  to  the  at- 
tack, endeavoring  to  take  him  at  all  times  in  the  direc- 
tion of  his  greatest  dimensions  ;  that  is,  obliquely  or  in 
fiank  when  in  line,  and  in  front  when  formed  in  col- 
umns. Moderate  heights,  commanding  as  much  as  pos- 
sible the  surrounding  country,  should  always  be  taken 
advantage  of,  but  not  such  as  may  prevent  operajlions 
in  advance  if  required. 

25.  Is  it  imperatively  necessary  to  confine  positions 
for  field  batteries  to  the  flanks  of  a  line? 

When,  from  particular  circumstances,  the  front  of  the 
army  is  too  extended,  and  unavoidabh'  divided  into  two 
lines,  it  may  become  necessary  to  place  one  or  more 
batteries  in  the  centre,  if  those  on  the  flanks  are  unable 
to  sweep  the  whole  front;  but  great  care  must  be  taken 
not  to  impede  the  advance -or  retreat  of  the  troops  when 
required. 

26.  Should  the  fire  of  the  field  batteries  be  carried  on 
at  the  same  uniform  rate  ? 

.p-|        Certainly  not  ;  the  destruction  of  the  enemy  be- 

-'    ing  the  object,  it    follows    that  at   distant  ranges  a 

greater  degree  of  care  is  required  in  pointing  the  guns  ; 

the  fire  is  slow  and  steady,  and  increasing  in  rapiditv  as 

b3 


42  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

the  enemy  advances,  Avithout,  however,    impairing  its 
precision. 

27.  Should  the  fire  of  field  batteries  be  carried  on  in 
salvoes  or  otherwise? 

Never  in  salvoes;  but  in  a  regular  manner,  well  sus- 
tained, and  with  distinct  intervals  between  every  round, 
commencing  slowly,  and  increasing  in  rapidity  as  the 
range  diminishes. 

28.  Is  the  fire  of  batteries  more  efficacious  when  dis- 
persed than  when  concentrated.? 

The  effects  of  the  fire  will  be  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  guns  brought  together,  and  therefore,  in 
order  to  strike  a  decisive  blow,  this  should  at  once  be 
done. 

29.  What  projectiles  are  used  with  field  guns  ? 
Solid  shot,  spherical  case,  and  canister. 

30.  At  what  distance  from  the  enemy  should  the  sev- 
eral kinds  of  projectiles  be  employed  with  field  battery 
pieces  ? 

Solid  shot  from  3.50  yards  and  upwards  ;  spherical 
case  from  600  up  to  1,000  yards,  although  it  may  be 
used  within  the  first  range  ;  and  canister  within  350 
yards  or  up  to  400  against  extended  formations. 

31.  What  number  of  rounds  can  be  fired  from  a  field 
gun  in  one  minute  '' 

Two  solid  shot  or  spherical  case,  or  three  of  canis- 
ter. 

32.  Why  are  more  rounds  of  canister  fired  in  a  min- 
ute than  of  solid  shot  or  spherical  case  ? 

.„-,        Because   the  latter   are  fired  at  greater  distances 
-■    than  canister,  and  require  the  piece  to  be  carefully 
aimed,  thus  requiring  more  time. 

33.  What  is  the  smallest  number  of  guns  that  may 
with  safety  be  employed  in  the  face  of  an  enemy  ? 


FIELD-GUNS   AND     BATTERIES.  .      43 

Never  less  than  two,  in  order  to  secure  a  continuous 
file  and  mutual  support. 

34.  Is  the  practice  of  employing  field  batteries  against 
those  of  the  enemy  recommended  ? 

Only  under  peculiar  circumstances  ;  as  for  instance, 
when  his  troops  are  well  covered  and  his  guns  exposed, 
or  their  fire  very  destructive. 

Their  fiie  should  be  directed  principally  against  col- 
umns of  attack  and  masses,  or  upon  positions  which  are 
intended  to  be  carried. 

35.  In  what  time  could  a  battery  come  into  action  in 
the  field  ? 

It  could  come  into  action  and  fire  one  round  in  25 
seconds,  timing  from  the  order  "  action  front  "  to  the 
discbarge  of  one  piece. 

36.  Suppose  cavalry  to  be  advancing  to  attack  infan- 
try, and  first  observed  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  jiassing 
over  the  first  half  mile  at  a  trot ;  and  next  quaiter  of  a 
mile  at  the  manoeuvring  gallop  ;  and  the  remaining  dis- 
tance at  an  increased  gallop,  terminating  with  the 
charge;  occupying  altogether  about  six  minutes;  during 
the  last  1^00  yards  of  their  advance,  how  many  rounds 
per  piece  might  a  battery  fire  in  that  time  ? 

Eleven  rounds  with  effect,  thus  : 

From  1,500  to  650  yards,     -    -     3^  32^^ — spherical  case,      -    -  T 
"        650  to  350"   "  -     -     0^  48^^— solid  shot,         -     -     -2 

"       350  to  close  quarters,    -     0^  34''^ — canister,      -    -    -    -  2 

37.  What  number  of  rounds  could  a  battery  fire    ^.q 
against  infantiy  supposing  thein  to  pass  o.ver  1,500    L 
yards  in  about  16^  minutes  ? 

Thirty-six  rounds  with  effect,  viz: 

From  1,500  to  650,  quick  step,     9^  45^^ — spher.  case,     -  -  -  19 

650  to  350,            "             3^  .50^^— solid  shot,       ■•  -  -     1 

"         350  to  100,           "             2^  30^^— canister,     -     -  -  -     8 

100  to  closer      double  quick         \n/  wz—can  -    2 

quarters.     \   and  the  charge.      }^    "^^        can,  -  ^ 


44  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

38.  Should  the  enemy  attempt  to  force  the  passngeof" 
a  river,  what  is  the  best  position   for  artillery  to   oppose 
it  ? 

Wherever  the  best  cross  fire  can  be  obtained  in  order 
to  obstruct  and  harrass  him  as  much  as  ])ossible,  and  if 
he  has  succeeded  in  passing  over  any  portion  of  his 
troops  it  should  be  directed  against  their  formation. 

39.  When  the  enemy  is  making  tlie  passage  of  a 
river  in  reti'eat,  where  should  your  guns  be  posted  ? 

In  '^uch  a  position  as  to  beai-  upon  the  batteries  that 
cover  the  retreat,  and  also  upon  his  biidges. 

40.  In  forcing  the  passage  of  a  river,  what  is  the 
most  advantageous  position  for  artillery  .'' 

The  bridge  being  generally  laid  in  a  .  re-entering  an- 
gle, batteries  should  be  posted  on  each  side  of  the 
bridge,  and  far  enough  from  it  to  secure  a  cross-lire  on 
the  opposite  bank. 

41.  Should  the  indiscriminate  expenditure  of  ammu- 
nition be  permitted  in  the  field  during  action  } 

U[)on  no  account;  ammunition  should  at  all  times  be 
carefully  husbanded,  particularly  at  the  commence- 
ment of  an  action,  as  the  want  of  it  at  the  close  may 
decide  the  fate  of  the  day;  it  should  also  be  sparingly 
used  in  skirmishes  and  miner  affairs,  especially  when 
.Q-n    at  a  distance  from  supplies,  or  in   anticipation  of  a 

-'   general  action. 

42.  When  should  the  reserve  be  employ(Hl  ? 

When  a  particular  point  of  the  line  requires  addi- 
tional support,  a  favorable  position  is  to  be  seized,  au 
impression  has  been  made  on  the  line  by  the  enemy, 
a  forward  or  reti-ograde  movement  is  in  contemplation, 
or  when  a  determined  attack  is  to  be  made  on  him, 
then  the  reserve  should  come  up  and  take  part  in  the 
action  ;   and  it  is   of  the    utmost  importance   that   this 


FIELD-GUNS   AND     BATTERIES.  45 

should  be  done   as   expeditiously  as  circumstances  will 
permit. 

43.  Where  should  the  reserve  be  placed  previous  to 
an  engagement  ? 

In  rear  with  the  second  line,  out  of  the  range  of 
shot,  and  as  little  exposed  as  circumstances  will  admit, 
but  always  in  such  a  position  as  to  have  ready  access 
to  the  front  or  rear. 

44.  Should  guns  be  lightly  abandoned  before  an  en- 
emy ? 

Never  until  the  very  last  extremity.  An  artille- 
ryman must  never  forget  that  his  gun  is  his  proper 
ARat  ;  that  here  lies  his  strength  ;  that  here  is  his  post 
of  honor  and  of  duty  ;  also,  that  the  last  discharges 
are  always  the  most  destructive,  and  may  possibly 
insure  the  safety  of  the  whole  army,  or  turn 
the  tide  of  victory  in  their  favor. 

15.  What  is  the  position  for  cavalry  when  placed  in 
support  of  a  battery  ? 

On  its  flank,  about  the  distance  of  100  yards,  and  as 
much  concealed  as  possible. 

46.  What  is  the  proper  position  of  field  batteries 
when  infantry  squares  are  attacked  by  cavalry  .'* 

When  infantry  are  formed  in  squares  to  resist  '^^r. 
the  charge  of  cavalry,  the  guns  should  be  placed  ^ 
outside  at  the  angles  of  the  squares,  the  limbers,  horses, 
&c.,  inside.  Should  the  detachments  be  driven  fronn 
their  guns,  they  will  retire  into  the  square,  after  dis- 
charging their  pieces,  and  taking  with  them  the  sponges 
and  other  equipments;  the  moment  the  enemy  has  re- 
tired, they  recommence  their  fire.  Supposing  the  in- 
fantry formed  in  echelon  of  regimental  squares,  and 
that  the  time  or  small  extent  of  the  squares  would  not 
admit  of  the  limbers,  &c.,  being  placed  inside,  then  the 
wagons  and  limbers  should  be  brought  up  with  their 
b5 


46  HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTILLERY. 

/ 
broadsides  to  the  front,  so  as  to  occupy,  if  possible,  the 
space  between  the  guns,  leaving  no  irdervals  for  the 
cavah-y  to  cut  through :  the  prolonge  or  drag  ropes 
might  also  offer  an  effectual  nnomentary  impediment  to 
them,  if  properly  stretched  and  secured. 


[51 


PART   II.     SECTION  I. 


Pointing  guns  and  howitzers. 

1.  What  is  meant  by  the  term  pointing  a  piece  } 

To  point  a  piece,  is  to  give  it  such  a  direction  and  el- 
evation, or  depression,  that  the  shot  may  strike  the  ob-. 
ject ;  and  the  rule  (except  in  case  of  mortars)  is  :  First 
give  the  direction  and  then  the  elevation,  or  depression. 

2.  When  a  shot  is  fired  from  a  piece,  by  how  many 
forces  is  it  acted  on  ? 

By  three. — 1st.  The  impulsive  force  of  the  powder, 
whicli  urges  it  forward. 

2d.  The  resistance  of  the  air,  which   tends  to  stop  it. 
3d.  The  force  of  gravity  which  causes  it  to  descend. 

3.  Why  is  it  necessary  to  give  a  certain  degree  of 
elevation  to  a  piece  ? 

Because  a  shot  describes,  under  the  action  of  the 
above  forces  a  curve  called  a  trajectory,  which  is  sit- 
uated below  the  prolongation  of  the  axis  of  the  piece, 
the  extent  of  its  departure  from  this  line  increasing 
with  the  time  of  flisrht.     Therefore  the  more  distant  the 


POINTING   GUNS   AND   HOWITZERS.  47 

object,  the  greater  must  be  the  elevation  to  enable  the 
shot  to  reach  it. 

4.  How  is  the  direction  given  to  a  gun   or   howitzer  ? 

By  directing  the  line  of  metal  upon  the  object. 
;-o-]       5.  How  is  the  elevation  or  depression  given? 

^  The  elevation  or  depiession,  which  depends  up- 
on the  charge,  the  distance,  and  the  position  of  the  ob- 
ject above  or  below  the  battery,  must  be  ascertained 
from  tables  or  by  experiment,  and  tlie  proper  degree 
given  by  means  of  instruments. 

6.  When  will  the  object  be  struck  by  merely  direct- 
ing the  line  of  metal  upon  it? 

But  in  one  case, — when  it  is  at  point  blank  distance. 

7.  How  must  the  line  of  metal  be  directed  for  all 
ranges  less  than  the  point-blank  range,  in  order  to  strike 
it? 

So  as  to  pass  below  the  object. 

8.  Give  a  simple  rule  for  .firing  at  objects  within 
point-blank. 

Add  to  the  point-blank  range  the  difference  between 
it  and  the  lequired  range,  set  the  scale  to  the  elevation 
corresponding  to  this  sum,  as  shown  by  tables  of  firing. 
Then  aim  the  gun  directly  at  the  object  ;  now  apply 
the  scale,  and  observe  where  the  visual  ray  of  the  scale 
strikes  the  ground,  and  having- noted  this  point,  aiin  the 
gun  directly  at  it. 

9.  How  must  the  line  of  metal  be  diiected  for  ranges 
greater  than  the  point-blank  range,  in  order  to  strike  it  ? 

Above  it*. 

10.  When  the  line  of  metal  passes  over  the  object, 
what  instruments  must  be  employed  for  giving  the 
proper  elevation  ? 

The  "gunner's  quadrant,  or  the  breech-sight. 

11.  How  is  the  quadrant  used  ? 

After  the  direction  has  been   given,    the   quadrant   is 
b6 


48  HAXD-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

^r>-.  applied,  either  by  its  longer  branch  to  the  face  of 
"^^  the  piece,  or  this  branch  is  run  into  the  bore  par- 
allel with  tlie  axis,  or  it  may  be  applied  to  the  upper 
sui  fare  of  the  lock-piece,  making  the  allowance  due  to 
its  inclination  with  the  axis  of  the  piece,  which  ought 
to  he  pieviously  determined,  and  the  elevating  screw 
tiiiiKHl  or  the  quoin  adjusted,  until  the  required  degree 
is  indicated. 

12    How  is  4he  breech-sight  used  ? 

It  is  first  set  to  the  elevation  corresponding  to  the  dis- 
tance ;  it  is  then  applied  to  the  highest  point  of  metal 
on  the  base-ring,  and  by  the  elevating  screw,  or  quoin, 
the  notch  of  the  breech-sight,  the  highest  point  on  the 
swell  of  the  muzzle,  and  the  object,  are  brought  in  the 
same  line. 

13.   Wl]at  is  a  line  thus  determined  called  ^ 

jt\n  aitificial  line  of  sight. 

14  In  the  absence  of 'instruments,  how  may  the  ele- 
vation be  given  .? 

By  placing  one  or  more  fingers  of  the  left  hand  upon 
the  base-ring,  perpendicularly  to  the  axis,  and  using 
tliem  as  a  breech-sight. 

Xoiic. — III  i)ractice  it  is  well  to  fire  two  or  three  shot  to  deter- 
niinc  the  ran^e  experimentally^  as  it  is  affected  hy  divers  causes. 

15.  Should  the  line  of  metal  be  always  directed  in 
the  vertical  plane  passing  through  the  object.? 

No  ;  as  in  practice  there  are  circumstances  (as,  for 
in>tance,  a  strong  wind  blowing  across  the  field  of 
fire)  whirh  will  cause  a  ball  to  deviate  from  this 
plane,  it  iollows  that  to  strike  the  object,  in  such  a  case, 
the  line  of  metal  must  be  directed  to  its  right  or  left  ; 
the.  gunner  judging  of  the  distance  by  observing  the 
strikin":  of  the  shot. 


POINTING   GUNS   AND   HOWITZERS.  49 

16.  Is  the  line  of  metal  a  permanent  line  under  j-^, 
all  circums^tances .''  L* 

No  ,  in  batteries  for  garrtsou  and  sea-coast  defense, 
where  the  platforms  are  fixed,  the  line  of  metal  may 
be  con>idered  as  nearly  permanent  ;  but  wiiii  siege 
guns,  which  are  mounted  on  traveling  carriages,  the 
wheels  of  which  are  liable  to  vai-y  in  position  from  un- 
evenne.ss  of  ground,  or  unequal  settling  in  newly  con- 
structed platforms,  this  line  is  constantly  changing.  It 
approximates  the  higher  wheel  in  proportion  to  the  dif- 
ference of  level  between  the  wheels  ;  and  hence,  to 
secure  the  greatest  accuracy  of  fire,  it  must  be  fre- 
quently verified  ;  the  old  marks,  if  not  found  correct, 
should  be  erased  and  new  ones  substituted. 

17.  When  the  notches  or  sights,  which  are  sometimes 
made  upon  the  ba><e-ring  and  swell  of  the  muzzle  in  field 
guns,  for  aiming  the  piece  are  used,  how^'  is  the  error  of 
direction  remedied  when  the.  wheels  are  not  onthe  same 
level  ^ 

The  piece  must  be  aimed  more  or  less  to  that  side 
which  corresponds  to  the  higher  wheel,  according  to  the 
inclination. 

18.  When  the  elevation  or  depression  has  once  been 
asceitained  for  any  given  distance,  how  may  the  firing 
at  that  distance  be  facilitated  ? 

By  noting  some  point  on  the  elevating  screw  or  quoin  ; 
adjusting  some  fixed  measurement  from  a  point  on  the 
stock  to  another  point  on  the  under  side  of  Ihe  bre(  c''  ; 
or  by  a  ch;tlk  mark  drawn  across  the  face  of  a  trunnion 
and  its  corresponding  cheek 

■    19.  When  filing  cither  within  or  beyond  point-blank 
;-^-,   range,  may    remarkable    points   on   the  ground   be 

J  taken  advantage  of,  in  order  to  furnish  an  object  to 
aim  at.^ 


50  HAND-300K    OF   ARTILLERY. 

Yes  ;  some  fixed  object  may  often  present  itself  which 
will  serve  as  a  point  upon  which  to  direct  the  line  of 
metal.  No  means  should  be  neglected  that  may  tend  to 
secure  accuracy  of  aim  ;  for  the  shot  that  is  thrown 
away  by  carelessness  in  pointing,  had  better  not  be 
thrown  at  all. 

20.  How  may  precision  of  fire  be  secured   at  night  .^ 
When  a  fixed  object  is  to  be  fired  at  by  night,  the 

piece  should  be  directed  during  the  day,  and  two  nar- 
row and  well-dressed  strips  of  wood  laid  on  the  inside 
of  the  wheels,  and  two  others  outside  of  the  trail  of  a 
siege  carriage,  and  nailed  or  screwed  to  the  platform. — 
In  case  of  a  barbette  carriage,  the  traverse  wheels 
should  be  chocked  in  the  proper  position.  To  preserve 
the  elevation,  measure  the  height  of  the  elevating  screw 
above  its  box,  or  take  the  measure  between  a  point  on 
the  gun,  and  another  on  the  stock;  cut  a  stick  to  this 
length  and  adjust  the  gun  on  it  at  each  fire. 

21.  Should  night-firing  with  g-w;z5  be  limited? 

Yes  ;   it  should  be  limited  to  a  small  number  of  rounds, 
as  it  consumes  ammunition  to  little  advantage. 


POINTING  MORTARS.  51 

56] 

PART   II.    SECTION  II. 


POINTING  MORTARS. 

1.  What  is  the  rule  for  polnliug  mortars  ? 
First  give  the  elevation,  and  then  the  direction. 

2.  How  is  the  elevation  given  ? 

By  applying  the  quadrant  to  the  face  of  the  piece, 
and  adjusting  the  quoin  until  the  required  number  of  de- 
grees is  indicated. 

3.  Are  the  same  means  employed  for  giving  mortars 
their  direction  as  those  which  are  used  wtth  guns  and 
howitzers  ? 

No;  because  mortars  are  usually  masked  from  the 
object  to  be  struck,  by  an  epaulment  or  parapet. 

4.  To  what  are  all  the  methods  employed  for  giving 
the  direction  to  mortars  reduced? 

To  determining  practically  two  fixed  points,  which 
shall  be  in  line  with  the  piece  and  the  object,  and  suffi- 
ciently near  to  be  readily  distinguished  by  the  eye. — 
These  points  being  covered  by  the  plummet,  determine 
a  vertical  plane,  which,  when  including  the  line  of  me- 
tal, becomes  the  plane  of  fire. 

5.  What  is  the  simplest  manner  of  directing  the 
mortar  ? 

By  means  of  pointing -wires. 

6.  Describe  this  method. 

The  two  fixed  points  required  are  determined  by 
planting  two  wires  upon  the  epaulment,  one  upon  ^^^ft- 
its  crest,  and  the  other  about  a  yard  in  advance  of  •- 


0  2  JIAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

it,  both  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  vertical  plane  pass- 
in^i;  through  the  centre  of  the  platform  and  the  object. 
The  points  being  thus  established,  the  direction  is  given 
to  the  mortar,  by  causinor  a  plummet  held  in  rear  of  it, 
to  coX^er  the  wires  and  the  line  of  metal. 

7.  In  what  respects  is  this  method  defective? 

Both  in  accuracy  of  flim,  and  the  liability  of  the 
wires  being  deranged  by  the  shots  of  the  enemy  or  by 
other  causes. 

8.  Give  a  better  method. 

By  means  of  polniinfr -stakes,  by  which  one  of  the 
fixed  points  is  established  upon  the"crest  of  the  parapet, 
or  at  the  foot  of  the  interior  slope,  and  another  in  rear 
of  the  piece.  Then  by  a  cord  called  the  poiniing-cord, 
stretched  between  these  two  points,  with  the  plummet 
suspended  from  it,  a  vertical  plane  is  determined  with 
which  the  line  of  metal  is  made  to  coincide, 

9.  How  are  the  stakes  planted  ? 

A  stake,  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  is  driven  into  the 
crest  of  the  epaulment,  as  nearly  as  practicable  in 
the  vertical  plane  of  fire  passing  through  the  centre  of 
the  platform  ;  sighting  by  this  stake,  another  long  one 
is  planted,  three  or  four  ^aei  in  front  of  it,  in  line  with 
the  object.  To  this  stake  the  cord  is  temporarily  at- 
tached, and  stretched  by  the  first  stake,  just  giazing  it, 
to  a  point  on  the  ground,  one  yard  in  rear  of  the  plat- 
form. At  this  point  a  tiiird  stake  is  driven,  The  cord 
is  removed  from  the  second  stake,  which  may  now  be 
taken  away,  and  permanently  attached  to  the  first. 
;^Q-,         10.    How  is  the  mortar  directed? 

-•  The  cord  is  stretched  to  the  rear  stake,  and  as 
near  the  muzzle  band  as  possible,  with  the  left  hand, 
while  the  plummet  is  suspended  against  it  with  the 
right,  or  the  plummit  may  be  attached  to  the  cord,  just 
in  rear  of  the  mortar. 


POINTING  MORTARS.  •  53 

11.  How  does  it  appear  that  the  mortar  is  thus  pro- 
perly directed  ? 

Because  the  cord,  the  plummet,  and  the  line  of  metal, 
are  evidently  in  the  vertical  plane  of  fire. 

12.  What  is  done  in  case  the  shell  should  strike  con- 
stantly to  the  riojht  or  left  of  the  object  ? 

The  pointing  cord  is  shifted  to  some  notch  on  the 
pointing -board,  to  the  right  or  left,  until  the  shell  falls 
at  the  desired  point. 

13.  Describe  the  pointing-boaid. 

This  is  a  piece  of  wood  one  foot  long,  two  or  three 
inches  wide,  and  one  inch  thick,  having  a  notch  cut  in 
the  middle  of  one  side,  to  fit  on  the  stake  and  which  is 
graduated  into  equal  divisions  from  its  middle.  When 
not  in  use,  the  pointing-cord  may  be  wound  on  it. 

14.  Describe  another  mode  of  planting  the  pointing- 
stakes. 

The  mortar  being  placed  upon  the  middle  of  the  plat- 
form, the    gunner    mounts  upon  it,  and    suspends    the 

I  plummet  in    front  of  the   muzzle,  covering  the  object. 

I  Where  the  plummet  thus   suspended  cuts  the  crest  of 

j  the  epaulment,  the  first  stake  is  driven.  A  second 
stake  is  then  driven  in  the  same  line  between  the  mor- 
tar and  the  epaulment.  The  pointing-cord  being  attached 
to  the  first  stake  and  stretched  to  the  rear,  over  the 
point  where  the  plummet  touches  the  top  of  the  p;^q 
mortar,  determines  the  point  on  the  ground  at  which    ^' 

"the  rear  stake  is  driven.  The  fiist  stake  is  then  re- 
moved, aud  the  cord  attached  permanently  to  the  second 
stake. 

When  the  object  cannot  be  seen  from  the  mortar, 
owing  to  the  interposition  of  some  obstacle,  as  a  parapet 
or  a  hill,  two  persons  in  sight  of  each 'other,  one  of 
whom  can  see  the  mortar,  and  the  other  the  object, 
must  by    successive  changes  of  position,   place    them- 


54  HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTILLERY. 

selves  in  the  vertical  plane  of  fire,  and  at  the  points 
thus  determined,  stakes  must  be  driven,  one  of  which 
will  serve  as  the  object. 

15.  How  may  precision  of  fire  be  secured  at  night 
with  mortals  ? 

The  (h'rcciion\s  preserved  by  nailing  or  screwing  two 
boards  to  the  platform  outside  of  the  cheeks  ;  the  e/eva- 
iion  is  marked  on  the  quoin,  or  the  quoin  may  be  nailed 
in  the  proper  position. 


[60 
PART     III. 


CHARGES. 

1.  What  is  the  charge  of  a  piece  of  artillery  ? 
The  powder  with  which  it  is  loaded. 

2.  What  is  the  ordinary  service  charge  of  pov/der  for 
heavy  guns  ? 

One-fourth  the  weight  of  the  shot. 

3.  What  is  it  for  firing  double  shot! 
One-^ixth  the  weight  of  one  shot. 

4.  What  is  the  breeching  charge? 

One-third  the  weight  of  the  shot.  * 

5.  What  kind  of  charges  are  used  in  hot  shot  firing? 
Small  charges  from  one-fourth  to  one-sixth  the  weight 

of  the  ball. 

6.  For  what  reason  } 

Because  balls  fired  with  small  velocities  split  the  wood 
in  a  manner  which  is  favorable  to  its  burning;  with  a 
great  velocity  the  hole  closes,  the  ball  sinks  deep,  and, 


GHARaES.         ,  55 

deprived  of  air,  chars   without  setting  fire  to  the  sur- 
rounding wood. 

7.  To  what  depth  should  Hot  shot  penetrate  ? 
Not  deeper  than  ten  or  twelve  inches. 

8.  fn  ricochet  firing,  what  kind  of  charges  are  used  ? 
Light  charges  generally  ;  varying  from  iwo-ihirJs  to 

one-eighih  of  the  ordinary  charge. 

9.  In  what  manner  are  the  charges  of  mortars   regu- 
lated ? 

^.j-j        The  charges  vary  with   the  elevation;  or  if  the 
-'    elevation  be  fixed  at  any  particular  angle,  they  must 
be  determined  b}''  the  range. 

10.  What   are   the   chargres  for  field   ojuns   and   field 
howitzers  ? 

See  Table,  page  62. 

11.  What  are  the   charges  for   heavy  guns,   colum- 
biads,  and  howitzers  ? 

See  Table,  page  63. 

12.  What  are  the   greatest   charges   of  the  seacoast, 
siege,  and  coehorn  mortars .'' 

See  Table,  page  68. 

13.  What  charge  is  used  for  projecting  fire-balls  from 
mortars. 

One  twenty-fifth  the  weight  of  the  ball. 


56 


HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 


CHARGES  FOR  FIELD-GUNS  AND  FIELD-HOWITZERS.  [62 


FOR    OUNS. 

FOR   HOWITZERS. 

KIND. 

•3 

i 

s 

For  shot,    ----- 
For  splicr.  case  or  canister, 
1?^,  av,r,ii      ^  Small  char>'f,     - 
For  Shells,  J  ^arge  charV, 

lbs. 
2.5 
1.5 

11.... 

1.95 
I. 

lbs. 

2.5 
2.5 
3.25 

lbs. 

1.75 

2. 

2.50 

lbs. 

0.75 
l.OO 
1.00 

lbs. 

0.5 
0.5 
0.5 

CHARGES  FOR  HEAVY  GUNS,  COLUMBIADS  AND  HOWITZERS 


GDNS. 

COLUMBIADS. 

HOWITZERS. 

c'i 

00 

i 

c 
o 

sz 

V 

c 
oo 

00 

o 

.1° 

« 

Sea-Coast. 

10-in. 

Sin. 

lbs. 
10.5 

lbs. 
8. 

lbs. 

8. 

lbs. 
6. 

... 

lbs. 
14. 

lbs. 
8. 

lbs. 
4. 

lbs. 
2. 

lbs. 
12. 

lbs. 

8. 

GREATEST  CHARGES  OF   SEA-COAST  SIEGE  AND  COEHORN 
MORTARS. 


SEA   COAST. 

SIEGE. 

COEHORN. 

STONE    MORTAR. 

C 
00 

c 

5 

ii 

i! 

if 

to 

2 

lbs. 
20. 

lbs. 
10. 

lbs. 
4. 

lbs. 
2. 

Ib^. 

0.5 

lbs: 
1.5 

lbs. 
1. 

RANGES.  57 


PART  IV. 


RANGES. 

1.  What  is  meant  by  the  range  of  a  piece  of  artil- 
lery ? 

The  distance  from  the  muzzle  to  the  first  graze. 

2.  How  may  the  range  of  a  projectile   be   extended  ? 
Either  by  raising  the  piece  to  a  higher   level,   or  by 

giving  its  axis  greater  elevation  within  certain  limits. 

3.  Define  point-blank  range  ? 

The  distance  from  the  muzzle  of  the  piece  to  that 
point  in  a  shot's  trajectory  where  it  cuts  the  prolonga- 
tion of  the  natural  line  of  sight,  a  second  time. 

4.  In  what  does  the  French  definition  for  point-blank 
range  differ  from  ours  ? 

It  requires  that  the  natural  line  of  sight  should  be 
horizontal. 

5.  What  is  the  British  definition  for  point-blank 
range  ? 

The  distance  from  the  muzzle  to  the  first  graze  when 
the  axis  of  the  piece  is  parallel  to  the  plane  upon  which 
the  carriage  ^tands. 

6.  Explain  by  a  figure  the  position  of,  and  relations 
existing  between  the  line  of  sight,  the  line  of  fire  or 
avis  of  the  piece,  and  the  trajectory,  and  also  what  the 
point-blank  range  is. 


HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTILLERY. 


ABcF,  the  line  passslng  through  the  highest  points 
of  the  base  ring  and  swell  of  the  muzzle,  or  the  muzzle 
band,  is  called,  the  natural  line  of  sight.  EPcG,  is  the 
axis  of  the  piece  oi  line  of  fire  ;  the  curve  line,  PgD, 
described  by  the  projectile,  is  called  the  trajectory,  and 
is  entirely  below  the  line  of  fire,  in  consequence  of  the 
action  of  the  force  of  gravity  giving  the  projectile  a 
downward  tendency.  The  point  D  is  called  the  point- 
blank;  and  its  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  piece,  the 
point-blank  range. 

7.  Mention  some  of  the  causes  which  var\'  the  point- 
blank  range. 

The  form  of  the  cannon  ;  the  weight  or  force  of  the 
charge  ;  the  diameter  and  weight  of  the  projectile  ;  and 
the  inclination  of  the  line  of  sight  to  the  horizon. 

8.  Why  has  the  form  of  the  cannon  an  influence  on 
the  point-blank  range  .'' 

Because  as  the  difference  between  the  diameter  of 
the  breech  and  muzzle  become  greater,  the  angle  of 
sight,  BcP=  GcF  (see  fig.)  increases,  and  the  point- 
blank  D  is  removed  farther  off;  on  the  contrary,  as  the 
diameters  approach  to  an  equality,  the  point-blank  ap- 
proaches the  piece.  Within  a  certain  angle,  or  when 
there  is  no  angle  of  sight,  as  is  the  case  with  some  old 
howitzers  in  which  the   line  of  sight   is  parallel  to  the 


RANGES.  59 

axis  of  the  bore,  there  will  be   no  point-blank,  as  r^r 
the  trajectory  will  be   constantly  below  the   line  of  l 
sight. 

9.  What  influence  has  the  charge  on  the  point-blank 
range  .'' 

An  increase  of  the  charge  determines  a  more  distant 
point-blank  ;  its  diminution  produces  a  contrary  eifect : 
but  beyond  a  charge  equal  to  one-third  the  weight  of 
the  ball,  the  increase  of  range  is  inconsiderable,  and 
the  force  of  the  recoil  becomes  very  great. 

10.  How  do  the  diameter  and  weight  of  the  projec- 
tile affect  the  range  ? 

As  the  ball  increases  in  size  and  density,  it  will  over- 
come with  more  ease  the  resistance  of  the  air. 

11.  Does  the  inclination  of  the  line  of  sight  to  the 
horizon  have  much  effect  on  the  point-blank  range  ? 

Only  when  this  inclination  is  very  considerable.  For 
the  ordinary  inclination,  from  0°  to  15°,  above  or  below 
the  horizon,  the  difference  may  be  wholly  neglected. 

12.  What  is  the  effect  on  the  point-blank  #ange  of 
firing  upwards  under  a  large  angle  ? 

The  action  of  the  weight  being  nearly  directly  op- 
posed to  the  impulsive  force,  the  trajectory  becomes 
compressed  and  the  point-blank  distance  diminishes. 
The  contrary  efl'ect  obtains  in  firing  downwards  under 
a  similar  angle,  as  the  weight  and  the  force  then  act  in 
nearly  the  same  direction. 

13.  Why  may  the  point-blank  be  considered  constant 
for  the  same  calabre  r 

The  dimensions,  charges,  and  weights  of  projectiles, 
being  constant,  and  the  inclination  of  the  natural  line 
^^-|   of  sight,  except  in  a  very  few   cases,   being  com- 

-'  piised  between  0°  and  15°,  it  follows  that  for  the 
same  calibre,  the  point-blank  may  be   considered    con- 


GO  IIAND-BOOK    OF    AIlTILLEllY. 

slant,  and  may  serve  as  a  point  of  reference  in  firing;  at 
tUfferent  di.-tances. 

14.  What  is  the  extreme  range  of  a  piece  of  artil- 
lery ? 

The  distance  from  the  piece  to  where  tne  projectile 
finally  rests. 

15.  For  a  given  velocity  what  effect  has  an  increase 
of  the  angle  of  fire  on  the  range  ? 

It  increases  with  the  angle  of  fire  up  to  a  certain 
limit,  beyond  which  it  diminishes. 

16.  What  angle  gives  the  greatest  range  in  vacuo? 
Forty-five  degrees. 

17.  When  will  this  angle  give  the  maximum  range 
in  practice  ? 

Only  for  feeble  charges,   and   very" heavy  projectiles. 

18.  How  is  the  angle  of  greatest  range  in  practice  af- 
fected by  a  change  in  the  velocity  and  size  of  the  pro- 
jectile } 

It  seems  to  diminish  as  the  velocity  is  increased,  and 
as  the  b#ll  is  reduced.  For  the  mu>ket  the  angle  of 
maximum  range  varies  iVom  28*^  to  30°  ;  and  is  nearly 
42°  for  mortars. 

19.  Under  what  angle  is  a  mortar  usually  fired  ? 
Under  the  constant  angle  of  45°,   and   the   charge  is 

varied  according  to  the  range  required. 

20.  What  are  the  advantages  of  this  practice  ? 

Economy  of  ammunition  ;  the  recoil  bemg  inconsid- 
erable, the  mortar  and  its  bed  receive  but  little  strain; 
the  ranges  are  more  uniform,  and  th-e  effect  of  a  slight 
error  in  the  angle  of  fire  is  less  than  with  any  other. 
P^ ,  21.  Is  the  mortar  ever  fired  at  any  other  angle 
^'-J  than  45°.? 

Yes  ;  sometimes  at  60°. 

22.  W^hen  is  the  mortar  fired  under  an  angle  of  60° } 


RANGES.  61 

When  the  battery  is  situated  very  near  the  object  as- 
sailed, and  it  is  desired  that  the  shells  may  fall  upon 
the  magazines  of  the  besieged.  It  is  evident  that  pro- 
jectiles the  higher  they  are  thrown  up  acquire  more 
velocity  in  falling,  besides  striking  the  object  more  di- 
rectly and  with  increased  violence. 

23.  Under  what  angle  are  stone-mortars  usually 
fired  ? 

Under  an  angle  of  60°,  and  sometimes  of  75°,  that  in 
falling  from  a  great  height,  the  stones  may  have  the  max- 
imum force  of  percussion. 

24.  Under  what  angle  should  grenades  be  thrown 
from  stone  mortars  ? 

About  33°  ;  otherwise  they  will  be  buried  in  the 
earth,  and  their  fragments  will  not  be  sufficientl}'  de- 
structive. 

25.  When  a  gun  or  howitzer  is  aimed  with  the  line 
of  metal  horizontal,  what  is  the  elevation  equal  to? 

The  natural  angle  of  sight  or  dispart. 

26.'  How  is  the  time  of  flight  for  siege  mortars  at  an 
elevation  of  45°  determined  ?» 

It  is  nearly  equal  to  the  square  root  of  the  range  in 
feet  divided  by  four. 


62]        RANGES    OF    FIELD    GUNS    AND    HOWITZERS.         [68^ 


KIND    OF    PIECE. 

Pow- 
der. 

Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

Range 

Remarks. 

lbs. 

deg.  inin 

yds. 

6-Pounder  Field  Gun. 

1.25 

Sliot. 

0 
1 

2 
3 
4 

318 
647 
867 
1138 
1256 

P.  B.  Range. 

(( 

5 

1523 

1. 

Sph.  ca.se. 

2 

650 

Time  of  flight  2" 

" 

2    30 

840 

do.         3" 

" 

3 

1050 

(io.          4" 

12-Pounder  Field  Gun. 

2.5 

Shot 

0 

347 

1 

1     30 

2 

3 

4 

662 
785 
909 
1269 
14.55 

P.  B.  Range. 

c.- 

5 

1663 

1.5 

Sph.  case. 

1 

670 

Time  2  seconds. 

u 

1     45 

950 

"     3        " 

" 

2     30 

1250 

u     4        u 

12-Ponndf;r  Field 

1. 

Shell. 

0 

195 

Howitzer. 

1 
2 
3 
4 

539 
640 
847 
975 

" 

5 

1072 

0.75 

Sph.  case. 

2     15 

485 

Time  2  seconds. 

a 

3     15 

715 

u     3        " 

3    45 

1050 

"     4        « 

24  Pounder  Field 

2. 

Shell.  ■ 

0 

•29.-) 

Howitzer. 

a 

'I 
a 

1 
o 

3 
4 

516 
793 
976 
1272 

a 

5 

1322 

1.75 

Sph.  case. 

2 

600 

Time  2  seconds. 

u 

3 

800 

"      3        " 

" 

5     30 

1050 

u       4         a 

2. 

" 

3     30 

880 

u       3          a 

32-PoundtT  Field 

2.5 

Shell. 

0 

290 

Howitzer. 

iC 

1 

.531 
779 

c: 

3 
4 
5 

1029 
1203 
1,504 

2.5 

Sph. case. 

3 

800 

Time2,\'  sec'ds. 

RANGES, 


63 


RANGES  OF    FIELD    GUNS    AND    HOWITZERS Cojltd.   [69. 


KIND    OF    PIECE. 


Mountain  Howitzer. 


Pow- 
der. 


0.5 


0.5 


Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

Range! 

Shell. 

cleg,  min 

>f^ 

1 

300 

2 

392 

2    30 

500 

3 

637 

4 

78.5 

5 

1005 

Sph.  case. 

0 
2    30 

150 
4.50 

3 

500 

4 

700 

4     30 

800 
250 

Canister. 

4  to  5° 

Remarks. 


Time  2  seconds. 
Time  3  seconds. 


Time  2  seconds. 

Time  2>4  sec'ds. 
Time  3  seconds. 


RANGES    OF    HEAVY    ARTILLERY. 


• 

KIND   OF  PIECE. 

Pow- 
der. 

Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

Range 

Remarks. 

lbs 

deg.  min 

yds. 

18-Pdr.  Siege  and  Garri- 

4.5 

Shot. 

1 

641 

son  Gun   on  Barbette 

if 

1     30 

800 

Point  Blank. 

Carriage. 

a 

2 
3 

950 
1256 

4 
5 

1450 
1.592 

24  Pdr.  Siege  and  Garri- 

6. 

Shot. 

0 

412 

son  Gun  on  Siege  Car- 

u 

1 

842 

nage. 

(< 
(( 

1     30 

2 

3 

953 
1147 
1417 

Point  Blank. 

4 
5 

1666 
1901 

8. 

a 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
1     45 

883 
1170 
1454 
1639 
1834 

32-Pdr  Sea-Coa.^tGun  on 

6. 

Shot. 

900 

Barbette  Carriage. 

8. 

a 

1 

1    30 

1     35 

2 

3 

4 

5 

713 

800 
900 
1100 
1433 
1684 
1922 

10.67 

i' 

1 

780 

2 
3 

1155 

1517 

64 


HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY, 


70]         RANGES  OF  HEAVY    ARTILLERY COntiiUied. 


KIND    OK    PIECE. 

Pow- 
der. 

Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

Range 

Remarks. 

lbs. 

de^.  min 

Vd.s. 

42-rdr.    Soa-Coast   Gun 

10..5 

Shot. 

1 

775 

on  Barbette  Carriage. 

a 

1     30 

860 

2 

1010 

3 
4 

1300 
1600 

(( 

5 

19.55 

14. 

u 

1 

2 
3 

770 
1128 
1380 

cc 

4 

1687 

i( 

5 

1915 

8-ii).  Sief^c;   Howitzer  on 

4. 

451b  Shell 

0 

251 

Time    %  sec'da. 

Siege  Carriage. 

iC 

1 

435 

"  ly^    " 

a 

2 

618 

u     2          « 

a 

3 

720 

"    3         « 
<^     4          a 

(( 

4 

992 

(I 

5 

1241 

u    5          ic 

u 

12    30 

2280 

24-Pdr.  Iron  Howitzer  on 

'2. 

17-lbSlicll 

IJ 

2y5 

a  Plank  Casemate  Car- 

1 

516 

riage. 

a 

5 

l;>22 

1>4 

Snh.  case. 

2 

600 

Time  2  seconda 

^    a 

5    30 

1050 

(c      4         a 

2. 

a 

3    30 

1 

880 

cc     3        cc 

8-in.  Sea  Coast  Howitzer 

4. 

45  lb  Shell 

4U5 

on  aBarb(;tte  Carriage. 

« 

2 

652 

3 

4 
5 

875 
1110 
1300 

6. 

a 

1 

572 

2 
3 
4 
5 

828 
917 
1168 
1463 

8. 

1 
2 
3 

646 
909 
1190 

<( 

4 

1.532 

a 

5 

1800 

10-in.  Sea  Coa>t  Howit- 

1-2. 

90-lb  Shell 

1 

580 

zer  on   Barbette   Car- 

.t 

2 

891 

Time  3  seconds. 

nage. 

a 

3 

1185 

cc      4        cc 

a 

3     30 

1300 

i( 

4 

1426 

"      5j<     " 

cc 

5 

1650 

c       6          cc 

RANGES. 


65 


RANGES  OF  HEAVY  ARTILLERY — Continued.      [71 


KIND  OF  PIECE. 

Pow- 
der. 

Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

deg.  inin 

Range 

Remarks. 

yds. 

8-in  Coluriibiad  on   Bar- 

10. 

65-Ib.  Shot 

1 

932 

Axis   of  gun   16 

bette  Carriage. 

2 

1116 

feet  f<i>ove  the 

u 

3 
4 
5 
6 

1402 
1608 
1847 
2010 

water. 

" 

8 

2397 

Shot    ceased   to 

10 

2834 

ricochet  on  the 

15 

3583 

water. 

20 

4322 

> 

25 

4875 

a 

27 

4481 

% 

la. 

27     30 

4812 

10. 

50-lb.  shell 

1 
2 

919 
1209 

3 

4 
5 
6 
8 
10 

1409 
1607 
1813 
198.5 
2203 
2657 

15 
20 
25 
27 

3556 
3716 

4387 
4171 

1.0. 

128-lb.sht. 

27    30 

4468 

10  in.  Colunibiad  on  Bar- 

1«. 

U 

394 

Axis  ot    gun   16 

bette  Carriage. 

1 

752 

feet  above  the 

2 
3 

4 

1002 
1230 
1570 

water. 

5 

1814 

f 

6 

2037 

Shot   ceased    to 

8 

2519 

ricochet  on  the 

10 

2777 

water. 

15 

3525 

20 

402Q 

25 

4304 

30 

4761 

35 

5433 

20. 

39     15 

5654 

1-2. 

lOoTbTh^n 

1 
o 

3 

4 
5 

800 
1012 
1184 
1443 
1604 

18. 

0 

448 

66  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

72]       RANGES  OF  HEAVY  ARTILLERY — Continued. 


KIND  OF  PIKCE. 

Pow- 
der. 

Ball. 

Eleva- 
tion. 

Range 

Remarks. 

lbs. 

deg.  niin 

yds. 

10-in  Colunibiad  on  Bar- 

18. 

100  Ibshll. 

1 

747 

bette  Carriage— Cont'd 

2 

3 
4 
5 
6 

8 
10 
15 
20 

1100 
1239 
1611 
1865 
2209 
2489 
2ri48 
3200 
3885 

.     " 

25 

41.50 

" 

30 

4651 

" 

35 

4«28 

Time  35  sec'da. 

13-in.  Sea  Coast  Mortar 

yo. 

200  Ibslill. 

45 

4325 

lime  40  sec'ds. 

10-in.  Sea-Coast  Mortar. 

10. 

98-lb.  shil. 
90  lb.  slill, 

45 

4250 

Time  36  sec'ds. 

10-in.  Siege  Mortar. 

i. 

45 

300 

Time   6.5  sec'ds 

1.5 

" 

700 

"     12.       " 

2. 

«< 

1000 

a       14.         u 

2.5 

a 

a 

1300 

«     16.       'i 

3. 

ic 

u 

1600 

<'     18.       "  . 

3.5 

"• 

u 

1800 

"     19.       « 

4. 

a 

2100 

"     21.       " 

Ibsoz. 

8-in.  Siege  Mortar. 

0     8 

45-lb.  shll. 

45 

209 

Time  6.75  sec'ds 

0  12 

" 

376 

u       9.       «  . 

1     0 

'i 

•i 

650 

"      11.5     " 

1     4 

(C 

943 

u      14.        u 

1     8 

a 

a 

1318 

"      16.5     " 

1  12 

a 

1.522 

"      18.5     " 

2    0 

" 

a 

1837 

"      20.5     " 

24-Pounder  Coeliorn 

0.5 

17-Ib.  .shll. 

45 

25 

. 

Mortar. 

1. 

'•■ 

a 

68 

1.5 

a 

'( 

104 

1.75 

" 

a 

143 

o 

a 

a 

165 

2.75 

a 

a 

260 

4. 

u 

" 

422 

6. 

u 

" 

900 

8. 
~Tb~ 

"■ 

" 

1200 

Stones. 

Stone  Mortar. 

1.5 

120  Ib.-i. 

60 

C  150 
I    to 
(  250 

1. 

(  15  6  jxir. 
I    shells. 

33 

50 

Fuze  15  seconds 

to  150 

Note. — Fire-balls,  according  to  their  size,  are  fired  from  mortars  of  cor" 
responding  calibres.  With  a  charge  of  one  twenty-fifth  its,  weight  the 
ball  is  thrown  600  or  700  yards.  ' 


RICOCHET.  67 

[73 
PART  y. 


RICOCHET. 

1.  What  is  understood  by  ricochet  firing  1 
That  obtained  by  firing  a  piece  at  very  small  angles 

of  elevation,  by  which  means  the  projectile  which  falls 
on  ground  of  ordinary  firmness  at  an  angle  not  greater 
than  10°,  or  upon  water  at  4°  or  °5,  will  make  one  or 
more  bounds.  In  this  case  the  projectile  is  said  to 
ricochet. 

2.  What  is  the  object  of  ricochet  firing? 

To  enfilade  a  face  of  the  enemy's  work,  which  is  ef- 
fected by  causing  a  projectile  to  bound  along  the  terre- 
plein  of  the  face  with  the  view  of  annoying  his  canno- 
neers, and  dismounting  his  pieces,  [t  is  employed  also 
in  harassing  an  enemy,  when  formed  or  in  the  act  of 
forming  behind  a  rising  ground  or  other  obstacle,  taking 
post  in  a  wood,  &.c.;   and  in  enfilading  a  line  of  troops. 

3.  What  are  the  peculiar  advantages.of  this  fire. 
In    being    able    to    reach    objects    which    cannot    be 

reached  by  direct  fire,  on  account  of  intervening  ob- 
stacles. 

4.  In  enfilading  a  face  of  an  enemy's  work,  what  is 
the  object  to  be  fired  at? 

Usually  some  point  of  the  interioi- crest  of  the  parapet 
which  covers  a  flank  of  the  terreplein  to  be  reached. 

5.  What  is  the  point  of  fed  H 

The  point  of  the  terreplein  which   is  first  struck    .«-. 
by  the  projectile,  after  having  grazed  the  interior   ^ 
crest. 


68  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

6.  What  is  the  angle  of  fall  1 

It  is  the  angle  made  at  the  point  of  fall  by  the  tangent 
to  the  trajectory  with  a  horizontal  line  in  the  plane  ot 
fire. 

7.  How  does  the  angle  of  fall  compare  with  that  of 
elevation  ? 

It  is  greater. 

8.  Upon  what  do  the  charge  and  elevation  depend  ? 
Upon   the   distance  of  the  object   from  the  battery  ; 

upon  the  difference  of  level  between  these  points  ;  the 
distance  of  the  desired  point  of  fall  from  the  parapet; 
the  height  of  the  parapet,  &c. 

9.  If  the  embrasure  be  such  that  the  object  is  masked, 
how  is  the  piece  pointed  ? 

The  direction  must  be  given,  as  with  the  mortar,  by 
the  plummet;  this  is  held  by  the  person  who  points,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  cover  both  the  line  of  metal  and 
the  object.    The  elevation  is  theR  given  by  the  quadrant. 

10.  What  is  the  maximum  angle  of  elevation  in  rico- 
chet firing  ? 

Against  troops  it  should  seldom  exceed  3°  above  the 
surface  of  the  ground  occupied  by  them.  Against  for- 
tresses, forts  and  fortified  lines,  it  varies  from  3°  to  9° 
above  the  hofizomtal. 

11.  At  what  distance  from  the  object  should  the, 
ricochet  battery  be  placed? 

Never  at  a  gieater  distance  than  600  yards. 

12.  In  enfihiding  a  work,  how  should  the  ricochet 
firing  be  conducted  } 

The  projectile  should  be  made  to  graze  the  parapet 
^--|    whih'.  in  the  descending  branch  of  the  trajectory; 

-^  and  th(s  must  be  effected  by  regulating  the  charges 
and  elevating  or  depressing  the  piece  until  the  shot  is 
seen  to  fall  just  over  the  interior  crest  of  the  parapet. 


RICOCHET.  69 

Li<2;bt  charges  are  generally  used,  varying  from  iwo- 
Viirds  to  one-eighth  of  the  ordinary  charge. 

13.  What  pieces  are  best  adapted  for  ricochet  fire  } 
Those  which  throw  heavy  shells,  for,,  if  used  to  enfi- 
lade  a  work,  the   shells   lodge   and   explode  in  the  tra- 
verses,   and   render   the   guns    more   liable    to    be    dis- 
mounted, and  their  detachments  put  hors  de  combat. 

14.  What  determines  the  nature  of  the  ricochet  ? 
The  angle  of  fall  :  it  h  flattened  when  this  angle  does 

not  exceed  6°,  and  cvrvated  when  it  is  between  10°  ana 
r2°.  In  the  fiist  of  these  tires,  the  velocities  are  great, 
and  in  the  second  small. 

15.  .What  are  the  charges  for  a  flattened  ricochet  for 
siege  guns  at  an  angle  of  about  3°.'' 

See  Table,  page  70. 

16.  What  are  the  charges  for  a  flattened  ricochet  for 
siege  howitzers  at  an  iangle  of  about  3°.'' 

See  table,  page. 70. 

17.  What  are  the  charges  for  a  curvated  ricochet  for 
a  siege  howitzer  at  an  angle  of  about  10°  ? 

See  table,  page  70. 


70 


HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 


[76 


CHARGES  FOR  A  FLATTENED  RICOCHET  FOR  SIEGE  GUNS. 


•ISTANCK. 

CHARGE. 

660  varil.s. 

440       " 
330       " 

2°   45' 
3°    15' 
3'    15' 
3°   35 

1  12  weight  of  ball. 

1-15       " 

1-20       " 

1-30       "               " 

CHARGES  FOR  A  FLATTENED  RICOCHET  FOR  SIEGE 
HOWITZERS. 


DISTANCE. 

FXKVATIOM. 

CHARGE. 

550  yards. 
440       «' 
3.30       " 

220       " 

r  45' 

2°   15' 
2°   IS' 

2°   4.>' 

3  lbs. 

2  lbs.     3  oz. 
I   lb.    12  oz. 
1   lb.      2  oz. 

CHARGES  FOR  A  CURVATED  RICOCHET  FOR  SIEGE 
HOWITZERS. 


I( 


5.')0  yards. 
440       " 
330       " 


ELEVATION. 


REMARKS. 


1   lb.   4  oz.      The  lieiglit  of  tlio  object  above   th< 

1    lb.   1  oz.llevel  of  tiie  battery  being  supposed  t 

14  oz.:be20  feel. 

10  oz.l 


RECOIL.  71 

[77 
PART    VI. 


RECOIL. 

1.  What  is  meant  by  the  recoil  of  a  piece  of  artillery  ? 
The  retrograde  motion  impressed  upon  cannon  by  the 

discharge  is  termed  the  recoil. 

2.  What  causes  the  recoil  of  a  piece  ? 

The  gas  produced  by  the  ignition  of  the  charge  in  the 
bore,  expanding  with  equal  force  in  every  direction, 
finds  only  two  ways  of  escape  (the  muzzle  and  vent)  ; 
the  pressure  upon  these  points  will  therefore  cease,  while 
t  will  be  proportionally  increased  upon  the  parts  directly 
opposite,  that  is,  the  breech  and  the  lower  part  of  the 
first  reinforce,  producing  in  the  first  case  the  recoil,  and 
in  the  other,  indirectly,  the  dipping  of  the  muzzle. 

3.  How  far  does  a  gun  usually  recoil? 

This  depends  entirely  upon  the  nature  and  inclina- 
tion of  the  ground  upon  which  the  carriage  stands,  the 
situation  of  the  trunnions,  angle  of  elevation,  compara- 
tive weight  of  the  gun  and  carriage,  and  upon  the 
strength  of  the  charge. 

4.  What  proportion  does  the  velocity  of  the  recoil  of 
a  piece  bear  to  that  of  a  ball  ? 

The  proportion  is  inversely  as  their  w^eights,  or  their 
masses. 

5.  What  proportion  exists  between  the  pressure  act- 
ing upon  the  part  of  the  bore  of  a  piece  directly  oppo- 
site the  vent,  and  that  which  occasions  the  recoil  r 

As   the   square   of  the   diameter  of  the  vent  is 


78] 


to  the  square  of  that  of  the  shot. 


72  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

6.  Hns  the  recoil  any  efiect  upon  the  flight  of  the 
projectile  ? 

No  appreciable  efH^ct,  the  shot  being  expelled  from 
the  a:un  before  it  has  recoiled  a  fraction  of  an  inch. 

7.  What  are  the  principil  inconveniences  arising  from 
the  recoil  of  guns  ? 

The  necessity  of  running  up  the  gun  after  every  dis- 
charge, and  consequent  fatigue  to  the  men  and  loss  of 
time  ;  it  also  necessitates  that  a  greater  bieadth  should 
be  given  to  the  terreplein  of  a  work. 

8.  What  cau>es  the  muzzle  of  a  piece  of  artillery  to 
dip  when  fired  ? 

The  suvlden  pressure  of  the  gas  acting  upon  the  por- 
tion of  the  fir>t  reinforce  opposite  to  the  vent,  causes 
the  piece  to  strike  dcjwnwards  up-ju  the  elevating  screw 
or  quoin,  and  the  reaction  to  make  the  muzzle  dip. 

9.  What  influence  has  the  po'^ition  of  the  axis  of  the 
trunnions  in  respect  to  that  of  the  bore  upon  the  recoil? 

If  the  axis  of  the  trunnions  be  below  that  of  the  piece, 
the  pressure  of  the  breech  upon  the  carriage  will  in- 
crease as  the- distance  between  the  axes  increases:  and 
from  this  pressure  there  will  arise  a  friction  upon  the 
ground  which  will  diminish  the  recoil.  On  the  con- 
trary, if  the  axis  of  the  trunnions  be  above  that  of  the 
piece,  the  breech  will  have  an  upward  tendency,  the 
recoil  will  be  in<:reast'd,  but  the  carriage,  and  particu- 
larly the  axletree,  will  be  subjected  to  less  strain. 
Hrnce.  the  recoil  will  be  transmitted  directly  to  the  j-^-q 
trunnions,  if  their  axis  (as  in  our  service)  be  situated  •- 
in  the  same  plane  with  the  axi--  of  the  piece.  The  size  of 
the  trufjnions  is  made  proportional  to  the  force  of  the 
recoil. 

10.  Does  the  position  of  the  trunnions  with  reference 
to  the  centre  of  gravity  of  the  piece  influence  the  recoil  ? 

Yes;   in    cannon   fired    horizontally,    or   under    very 


WINDAGE.  TS 

small  angles,  the  portion  in  rear  of  the  trunnions  is 
heavier  than  that  in  front ;  an  arrangement  which  in- 
creases the  pressure  of  the  trail  on  the  ground  so  as  to 
diminish  the  recoil.  But  in  pieces  fired  under  large 
angles,  the  trunnions  are  placed  in  rear  of  the  center  of 
gravity,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  ease  of  pointing. 


[80 

PAKT  VII. 


WINDAGE. 

1.  What  is  meant  by  windage? 

The  difference  between  the  diameter  of  the  projectile 
and  that  of  the  bore. 

2.  Is  it  absolutely  necessary  to  allow  windage  ? 

Yes,  in  order  to  make  an  allowance  for  a  piece  be- 
coming foul,  the  expansion  of  shot  by  heat,  the  incrus- 
tation of  rust,  and  for  the  tin  straps  of  fixed  am- 
munition. 

3.  What  advantages  are  derived  from  reducing  the 
windage  ? 

An  increase  in  the  accuracy  of  fire;  a  more  exten- 
sive range,  or  an  equal  range  with  a  smaller  charge,  as 
there  is  less  loss  of  gas;  and  less  injury  to  the  surface 
of  the  bore. 

4.  Why  should  the  bore  suffer  less  injury  by  a  dimi- 
nution of  the  windage  ? 

Because   in   proportion   to  the   decrease  of  windage 
C 


74  HAND-BOOK   OF  ARTILLERY. 

there  will  be  less  space  for  the  reflections  of  the  shot 
along  the  bore,  and  consequently  less  injurious  power 
exercised  upon  it. 

5.  What  is  the  loss  of  velocity  by  a  given  'windage 
proportional  to? 

It  is  directly  as  the  windage,  and  inversely  as  the 
diameter  of  the  bore  very  nearly. 

[81 

6.  What  is   the  loss   of  velocity  by  the  windage  of 
the  ball? 


WINDAGE. 


75 


o 

O 

Initial  velocity  of  ball. 

KIND    OF    GDK. 

13 

i 

So 

>   0) 

33-pdr.  Sea-Coast, 

lbs. 

4 

feet.. 
1444 

feet. 
1271 

feet. 
173 

percent. 
12 

24-pdr.  Siege,      -        -     j 

4 
6 

1600 
1890 

1433 
1723 

167 
167 

10 
9 

12-pdr.  25  calibres,      -     J 

2 
3 

4 

1617 
1915 
2124 

1444 
1742 
1951 

173 
173 
173 

11 
9 

8 

12-pdr.  Field,  16  calibres,  5 

o 
3 
4 

1528 
1793 
1992 

1370 
1635 
1834 

'  158 
158 
158 

10 
9 

8 

6-pdr.  Field, 

1.5 

1734 

1560 

174 

10 

7.  What  windage  is  allowed  to  guns 


IRON. 

BRASS. 

Sea-Coast. 

Siege  and  Garrison. 

Field. 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

12 

6 

inchts. 
0.16 

inches. 
0.15 

inches. 
0.14 

inches. 
0.13 

inches. 
0  10 

inches. 
0.10 

inches. 
0.9 

c2    . 


76 


HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTILLERY. 


82] 

8.  What   windage    is    allowed    to    columbiads    and 
howitzers  : 


COLUMBIADS. 

HOWITZERfl. 

Iron. 

Brass. 

Iron. 

Sea-Coast. 

Siege  and 
Garrison. 

Field. 

Moun- 
tain. 

a 

6 

a 
00 

s 

c 

5 

c 

00 

i 
i 

i 

-a 
P. 

in. 
0.12 

in. 
0.12 

in. 
0.12 

in. 
0.13 

in. 
0.13 

in. 
0.14 

in. 
0.15 

in. 

0.14 

in. 

0.10 

in. 
0.10 

9.  What  annount  of  windagre  is  allowed  to  nnortars  .'* 


IRON. 

BRASS. 

IRON. 

Heavy. 

Light. 

Stone 
Mortar. 

Coehorn 
24  pdr. 

Eprouvette. 

inches. 
0.13 

Indies. 
0.13 

inches. 
0.13 

inches. 
0.12 

inclics. 

inches. 
0.14 

inches. 
0.025 

GUNPOWDER.  T7 

[83 
PAET  YIII. 


GUNPOWDER. 

1.  What  are  the  ingredients  in  gunpowder!' 
Saltpetre,  charcoal  and  sulpliur. 

2.  What  are  the  proportions  ? 

In  theUnited  States,  75  to  76  saltpetre,  14  to  15 
charcoal,  and  10  sulphur. 

England,  75  Saltpetre,  15    Charcoal,  10    Sulphur. 

France,     t5         "  12^         '♦  Vl\ 

Prussia,    75         "  13|         "  11^        " 

3.  What  is  the  combustible  ingrediient.^ 
Charcoal. 

4.  What  is  the  use  of  the  saltpetre.^ 

It  furnishes  the  oxygen  necessary  to  support  a  rapid 
combustion,  and  to  change  the  whole  mass  into  gas. 

5.  What  is  the  use  of  sulphur  ? 

It  adds  consistency  to  the  mixture  and  intensity  to 
the  flame,  besides  rendering  the  powder  less  liable  to 
absorb  moisture. 

6.  On  what  does  the  quality  of  gunpowder  depend? 
On   the   intimate  mixture  and  proper  proportions  and 

purity  of  the  ingredients. 

7.  In  what  does  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder  con- 
sist ? 

In  pulverizing  the  ingredients,  incorporation,  com- 
pression, granulation,  drying,  glazing  and  dusting. 

8.  Explain  the  method  of  making  gunpowder  by  ro . 
the  pounding  mill.  l 

The  charcoal   in   small   pieces  is  first  placed  in  the 
c3 


78  IIAXD-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

mortars,  with  a  quantlt}^  of  water,  and  pounded  for  half 
an  hour  ;  after  which  the  saltpetre  and  then  the  sul- 
phur, previously  pulverized  and  sifted,  are  put  in,  and 
the  whole  well  mixed  with  the  hand  ;  it  is  then  pound- 
ed in  the  mortars,  and  at  the  end  of  each  hour,  the 
composition  is  passed  from  each  mortar  into  the  next. 
At  the  sixth  or  eighth  change,  add  half  a  pint  of  water; 
it  is  tlien  pounded  two  hours  without  changing  the  mor- 
tars, in  order  that  it  may  form  into  cake.  It  is  then 
partially  dried,  and  grained  in  a  graining  sieve,  or 
passed  between  wooden  rollers.  The  grains  are  then 
sifted  to  separate  those  which  are  too  coar-^e  and  too 
fine,  and  al>o  to  separate  from  each  other  the  different 
kinds  of  grains  for  cannon,  musket  and  rifle  powder. 
It  is  then  glazed  in  lar^^e  glazing  barrels,  which  make 
15  or  20  revolutions  in  a  minute.  A  charge  of  500  lbs. 
is  thus  treated  for  about  twenty-four  hours.  It  is  then 
dried  either  in  the  open  air,  or  in  a  drying  house.  If 
in  the  open  air,  when  the  sun  is  too  hot,  the  powder 
should  be  covered  to  prevent  the  loss  of  sulphur.  It  is 
then  dusied,  by  being  sifted  in  fine  sieves,  or  through 
bolting  cloths. 

9.  What  other  machines  besides  the  pounding  mill 
are  used  in  pulverizing  and  incorporating  the  ingredients 
of  gunpowder  ? 

Rolling  barrels,  and  the  cylinder  or  rolling  mill. 

10.  What  advantage  is  gained  by  the  use  of  the  roll- 
ing barrels  1 

It  lessens  the  duration  and  danger  of  pounding  in  the 
n^i    mortars.    After  the  ingredients  are  pulverized  and 

-I  mixed  in  the  rolling  barrels,  the  mixture  is  placed 
under  the  pestles  of  the  povnding  mill,  10  per  cent,  of 
water  is  added,  and  it  is  beaten  for  three  hours  only. 

11.  Which  mill  is  now  generally  used  ? 


GUNPOWDER.  79 

The  CYLINDER  MILL,  vvhich  forms  50  lbs.  of  compo- 
sition into  cake  in  from  one  to  three  hours. 

12.  Does  powder  inflame  instantaneously  ? 

No  ;  its  inflammation  is  gradual,  and  progressive,  and 
in  a  gun  the  projectile  commences  to  move  before  the 
whole  charge  is  ignited. 

13.  Wh}^  should  gunpowder  be  grained  ? 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  transmission  of  the  flame  ? 
When  the  powder  is  very  fine,  and  in  large  and  com- 
pact charges,  the  flame  Cannot  penetrate  it,  and  it 
burns  slowly  and  in  successive  layers. 

14.  Which  burns  quicker,  the  small  or  large  grained 
powder  ? 

Before  coming  tD  the  limit  of  dust,  the  smaller  the 
grain,  the  inore  rapid  the  combustion,  and  the  greater 
the  bursting  force  of  the  powder. 

15.  What  is  the  difference  between  the  ignition  and 
combustion  of  large  and  small  grained  powder? 

With  the  large  grained  the  ignition  is  more  rapid,  but 
the  combustion  slower;  with  small  grains  the  contrary 
is  the  case. 

16.  Why  should  (he  grains  be  angular.'' 

Because  they  present  a  greater  surface  to  the  action 
of  the  flame,  and  therefore  burn  quicker. 

17.  Why  should  powder  be  free  from  dust  ? 
Because  the  dust  fills  up  the  intervals  between  the 

grains,  and  forming  a  compact  mass,  retards  con^.bus- 
tion. 

18.  To  what  special  purpose  are  large  and  small  .Q^r. 
grained  powders  applied  ?  ^ 

The  large  for  cannon,  and  the  small  for  small  arms. 

19.  How  is  the  size  of  the  grain  for  each  kind  of 
powder  tested  7 

By  means  of  sieves  or  gauges. 

c4 


80  HAND-BOOK  OP  ARTILLERY. 

20.  How  many  grains  of  powder  are  in  10  grs.  Troy 
weight  ? 

6n2no7i,  150;  Musket,  2,000  to  2-,o00  ;  and  Rifle, 
12.000  to  15,000. 

21.  What  is  the  object  in  glazing  powder? 

Glazed  powder  does  not  absorb  moi?iture,  or  break  up 
in  transportation,  so  much  as  unglazed. 

22.  What  is  the  established  mode  of  proving  the 
strength  of  powder  in  the  U.  S.  ? 

A  sample  is  taken  from  each  barrel,  and  the  strength 
determined  by  the  eprouvette  mortar. 

23.  What  is  the  least  range  allowed? 

The  general  mean-range  of  new  powder  must  not  be 
less  than  250  yards ;  but  no  powder  ranging  below  225 
yards  is  received. 

24.  When  is  powder  in  magazines  considered  unser- 
viceable ? 

When  it  does  not  range  over  180  yards. 

25.  What  is  the  range  of  good  powder  ? 

Cannon  from  280  to  300  yards.  Small  grained  from 
300  to  320  yards. 

26.  What  other  means  is  there  for  determining  the 
strength  of  powder? 

The   Gun  and  Ballistic  pendulum,  and   Navez' 
Electro-ballistic    Machine.     The  latter  is  consid- 
ered the  best  for  determining  the  initial  velocit}'. 
Q^-j        27.    What  is  the    hygrometric    proof   of  pow- 
^^■i    der? 

Samples  are  placed  in  shallow  tin-pans,  set  in  a  tub, 
the  bottom  of  which  is  covered  \\'ith  water  ;  the  pans 
should  be  about  an  inch  abovethe  water,  and  the  tub  cov- 
ered. Good  powder  will  not  absorb  more  than  2^  per 
cent,  in  24  hours. 

28.  How  can  the  relative  quickness  of  two  kinds  of 
powder  be  determined  ? 


GUNPOWDER.  8 1 

By  burnrng  a  train  laid  in  a  circular  or  other  groove, 
which  returns  into  itself,  made  in  a  piece  of  hard  wood  ; 
one-half  of  the  groove  being  filled  with  each  kind  of 
powder,  and  fire  communicated  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  trains,  the  relative  quickness  is  readily  deduced 
from  observation  of  the  point  at  which  the  flames 
meet. 

29.  What  are  the  qualities  of  good  powder  ? 

It  should  be  perfectly  free  from  dust,  uniform  in 
strength  and  size  of  grains,  angular  and  irregular  in 
form;  in  color,  brownish  black,  or  shte  color;  so  hard 
as  not  to  be  easily  crushed  by  pressure  with  the  finger; 
and  should  leave  no  beads  or  foulness  when  flashed  in 
quantities  of  10  grs.  on  a  copper  plate. 

30.  What  is  the  expansive  velocity  and  pressure  of 
ignited  powder.? 

The  expansive  velocity  is  about  5,000  feet  per  second, 
and  pressure  about  2,000  atmospheres. 

31.  What  is  the  weight  of  a  cubic  inch  of  powder? 
About  half  an  ounce  ;    a  cubic    foot  will    therefore 

weigh    about   54  pounds,    and    32   cubic   inches,    one 
pound. 

32.  How  is  government  powder  packed  } 

In   barrels  of   100  lbs.  each*   the  barrels  being  large 
r^^l   enough  to  allow  sufficient  .<pace  for  the  powder  to 
-J    move  when  rolled  to  prevent  its  caking. 

33.  How  are  the  barrels  marked  ? 

On  one  head  with  the  place  and  year  of  manufacture, 
and  Avith  the  kind  of  grain,  cannon,  musket,  or  rifle  ;  on 
the  other  head,  with  the  year  in  which  it  was  ;?/-over/and 
the  proof-range,  leaving  room  for  subsequent  proofs, 
which  are  marked  in  the  same  manner. 

34.  When  powder  is  injured  by  dampness,  can  it  be 
restored  .? 

If  the  water  absorbed  does  not  exceed  7  per  cent.,  it 


62  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

can  be  by  dryin^^.  If  it  has  absorbed  from  7«to  12  per 
cent.,  after  drying,  it  remains  porous  and  friable,  and  is 
unfit  for  transportation.  In  this  case  it  is  better  to  work 
it  over. 

35.  How  is  powder  stored? 

In  magazines  especially  constructed  for  the  purpose. 
The  barrels  aie  generally  placed  near  the  sides,  three 
tiers  high,  or  four  tiers  if  necessary  ;  small  skids  should 
be  placed  on  the  floor  and  between  the  several  tiers  of 
barrels,  in  order  to  steady  them,  and  chocks  should  be 
placed  at  intervals  on  the  lower  skid,  to  prevent  the 
rolling  of  the  barrels. 

36.  How  are  the  different  kinds  of  powder  ar- 
ranged .'' 

Those  barrels  of  the  same  kind,  place,  and  date  of 
fabrication,  and  proof-range,  are  piled  together. 

37.  Should  it  be  necessary  to  pile  the  barrels  more 
than  four  tiers  high,  what  is  done  ? 

The  upper  tiers  are  supported  by  a  frame  resting  on 
the  floor;  or  the  barrels  may  be  placed  on  their  heads, 
with  boards  between  the  tiers, 

38.  What  is  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the 
powder .'' 

The   magazine   shouliii  be  opened  and   aired    in    j-^^q 
clear   dry   weather,  and    the  ventilators  should  be    ^ 
kept  free. 

39.  How  may  the  moisture  of  the  magazine  be  ab- 
sorbed ? 

By  chloride  of  lime  suspended  in  a  box  under  the 
arch,  and  renewed  from  time  to  time. 

40.  When  the  magazine  is  open,  what  precaution 
should  be  observed  ? 

The  sentinel  or  guard  should  have  no  fire-arms,  and 
any  one  who  enters  it  should  take  off"  his  shoes,  or  put 


PROJECTILES.  83 

socks  over  them.  No  sword  or  cane,  or  anything  which 
might  occasion  sparks  should  be  carried  in. 

41.  How  should  powder  in  barrels  be  transported  ? 
The  barrels   should  never  be  rolled  ;  they  should  be 

carried  in  hand-barrows,  or  slings  made  of  rope  or 
leather.  In  wagons,  the  barrels  should  be  packed  in 
straw,  and  not  allowed  to  rub  against  each  other,  and 
the  whole  covered  with  thick  canvas. 

42.  What  precaution  should  be  used  to  prevent  pow- 
der caking  ? 

The  barrels  should  be  taken  outside  the  magazine  and 
rolled  on  boards. 

43.  Where  should  cartridge-bags  be  filled  ? 

In  the  filling-room  of  the  laboratory,  or  a  small  mag- 
azine, and  not  in  the  general  magazine. 


90] 

PART  IX. 


PROJECTILES. 

1.  What  projectiles  are  made  use  of  in  the  ser- 
vice ? 

Solid  shot,  shells,  spherical  case  or  shrapnel,  canis- 
ter, grape,  grenades,  stones,  carcasses,  light  and  fire 
balls. 

2,  What  is  a  solid  shot  ? 

A  solid   sphere  of  cast  iron,  almost  exclusively  ap- 
propriated to  guns.     The  gun  derives  its  denomination 
from  the  weight  of  the  shot,  as  6-pdr.,  12-pdr.,  &c. 
c6 


84  HAND-BOOK   OP   ARTILLERY. 

3.  What  is  a  shell,  and  its  use  ? 

A  hollow  i^phere  of  cast  iron  containing  powder,  which 
is  ignited  by  means  of  a  fuze;  when  fired  at  troops  it 
should  be  prepared  to  burst  over  their  heads  ;  or,  if  the 
ground  be  favorable,  to  ricochet  a  little  in  front,  and 
plunii;e  into  the  column  When  fired  at  works  or  build- 
ings, it  should  explode  after  penetration. 

4.  What  is  spherical  case,  and  wltat  advantages  does 
it  possess  ? 

It  is  a  shell  much  thinner  than  the  ordinary  shell,  and 
filled  with  leaden  bullets  and  a  charge  of  powder  suf- 
ficient to  burst  it,  which  is  done  by  means  of  a  fuze  as 
with  a  common  shell  at  any  required  distance.  It  is 
thus  calculated  to  extend  all  the  advantages  of  canister 
shot  to  distances  far  beyond  the  reach  of  that  projectile. 
It  is  fired  both  from  guns  and  howitzers. 
Q^-i       5.   What  are  canister  shot? 

■'        Cylindrical  tin  cases  with  iron  heads,  of   calibre 
suitable   for   different    pieces    of   ordnance,  filled   with 
cast-iron  balls  arranged  in  tiers ;  they  are  fired  at  ranges  t 
not  exceeding  400  yards,  but  their  most  destructive  ef- 
fects are  from  100  to  200  yards. 

6.   What  are  grape  shot .? 

A  certain  number  of  iron  balls,  usually  nine,  put  to- 
gether by  means  of  two  cast-iron  plates,  two  rings,  and 
one  pin  and  nut.  Each  plate  has  on  the  inside  three 
beds  for  the  shot,  of  a  depth  equal  to. half  the  thickness 
of  the  plate,  and  of  the  form  of  a  spherical  segment,  the|{ 
curvature  of  which  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  shot.  An 
iron  pin  rivited  to  the  bottom  iron  plate,  passes  through 
the  centre  and  also  through  the  top  plate,  where  the 
whole  is  secured  by  a  nut  and  screw. 

Note. — The  use  of  these  shot  for  field  pieces  has  been  discontiu- 
ued,  canister  answering  the  purpose  of  these  shot. 


PROJECTILES.  85 

7.  How  were  the  balls  fixed  in  the  old  pattern  ? 

They  were  placed  in  tiers  around  an  iron  pin  attach- 
ed to  an  iron  tompion  at  the  bottom,  and  put  into  a 
canvas  bag,  and  then  quilted  around  with  a  strong 
cord. 

8.  What  is  a  grenade  ? 

A  shell  thrown  from  the  hand,  or  in  baskets  from  the 
stone  mortar,  and  ignited  as  other  shells  by  means  of  a 
fuze. 

9.  How  many  kinds  of  grenades  are  made  use  of? 
Hajid-gr enades    and    rampart-grenades;    six-pounder 

spherical  case  may  be  used  for  the  former,  and  shells  of 
any  calibre  for  the  latter. 

10.  To  what  purposes  are  grenades  applied  ? 

They  are    useful  in   the  defence  of   works,   the    j-qj^ 
smaller,    thrown    by  hand  into  the   head  of  a  sap,    L 
trenches,  covered  way,  or  upon  the  besiegers  mounting 
a  breech  ;  the  larger  kinds  are  rolled  over  the  parapet  in 
a  trough. 

11.  What  is  a  carcass,  and  its  use.'' 

It  is  a  spherical  shell  having  three  additional  holes  of 
the  same  dimensions  as  the  fuze  hole,  pierced  at  equal 
distances  apart  in  the  upper  hemisphere  of  the  shell,  and 
filled  with  a  composition  which  burns  with  intense 
power  from  eight  to  ten  minutes,  and  the  flame  issuing 
from  the  holes,  sets  fire  to  everything  combustible 
within  its  reach  ;  it  is  used  in  bombardments,  setting 
fire  to  shipping,  &,c.;  and  is  projected  from  cannon  like 
a  common  shell. 

12.  What  is  a  substitute  for  a, carcass? 

Common  shells  loaded  in  the  following  manner  :  The 
bursting  charge  is  placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  shell  in 
a  flannel  bag,  over  which  carcass  composition  is  driven 
until  the  shell  is  nearly  filled  ?  then  insert  four  or  five 
strands  of  quick  match,  which  must  be    secured  by  dri. 


86  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

ving   more    composition  upon  it.     These    shells,   after 
burning  as  a  carcass,  explode. 

13.  What  is  a  fire-ball,  and  its  use  ? 

It  IS  a  projectile  of  an  oval  shape,  formed  of  sacks  of 
canvas  filled  with  combustible  composition,  which  emits 
a  bright  flame,  its  «se  is  to  light  up  the  enemy's  works, 
and  it  is  loaded  with  a  shell  to  prevent  it  from  being 
approached. 

14.  What  is  alight  ball? 

Light  balls  are  the  same  as    fire    balls,  except  that 
there  is  no  shell  in  them,  as  they  are  used  for   lighting 
up  our  own  works, 
qn-,        15.   What  is  a  smoke  ball  ? 

-•  A  hollow  paper  sphere  similar  to  a  light  ball,  and 
filled  with  a  composition  which  emits  a  dense,  nauseous 
smoke;  it  is  employed  to  sutTocate  the  enemy's  minors 
when  at  work,  or  to  conceal  one's  own  operations  ;  it 
burns  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  minutes. 

16.  In  field  pieces  to  what  is  the  projectile  attached? 
To  a  block  of  wood  called  a  sabot? 

17.  Are  the  projectile  and  cartridge  ever  attached  to 
the  same  sabot  ? 

Yes,  in  field  guns,  and  the  l^rpdr.  field  howitzer;  the 
whole  then  constitutes  a  j'ound  of  fixed  ammunition. 

18.  What  is  the  arrangement  in  case  of  the  32  and 
24-pdr.  field  howitzers  ? 

The  projectile  is  separate  from  the  charge,  and  the 
cartridge  is  attached  to  a  block  of  wood  called  the  cart- 
I'idge-block,  the  object  of  which  is  to  give  a  finish  to 
the  cartridge  and  fill  the  chamber. 

19.  What  difference  is  there  in  sabots  for  field  ser- 
vice ? 

Sabots  for  shot,  and  spherical  case  for  guns,  have  one 
groove  for  attaching  the  cartridge — those  for  gun  canis- 
ters and  for  the  12-pdr.   howitzer  shells,  spherical  case 


PROJECTILES.  87 

and  canisters,  have  two  grooves.  Those  for  the  32  and 
24-pdr.  howitzers  have  no  grooves  ;  but  are  furnished 
with  handles  made  of  cord,  pa>sing  through  two  holes 
in  the  sabot,  and  fastened  by  knots  on  the  inside. 

20.  How  are  projectiles  for  field  service  fastened  to 
the  sabot?  -* 

By  straps  of  sheet-tin,  or  of  strong  canvas,  when  tin 
or  sheet  iron  cannot  be  |)rocured. 
q.-n       21.   How  many  straips   are  employed,  and    how 

^   are  t[>ey  fastened  ? 

For  shot,  there  are  two  straps  crossing  at  right  angles, 
one  passing  through  a  slit  in  the  middle  of  the  other. 
For  shells,  there  are  four  straps  soldered  to  a  ring  of  tin, 
or  fastened  to  it  by  cutting  four  slits  in  the  ring,  into 
which  the  upper  ends  of  the  stap  are  hooked,  and  turn- 
ed down  on  the  inside  of  the  ring.  The  sabots  for  32 
and  24-pdr.  field  howitzers  having  no  groove,  each  strap 
is  fastened  by  one  nail  on  the  side,  and  two  under  the 
bottom  of  the  sabot. 

22.  What  is  a  canister  for  field-service? 

It  consists  of  a  tin  cylinder  attached  to  a  sabot  and 
filled  with  cast-iron  shot. 

23.  How  is  it  made.? 

The  cylinder  is  fastened  to  the  sabot  by  six  or  eight 
nails,  and  a  plate  of  rolled  iron  is  placed  at  the  bottom 
on  the  sabot.  It  is  closed  with  a  sheet-iron  cover  after 
being  filled,  the  top  of  the  cylinder  being  cut  into  strips 
^  an  inch  long,  and  turned  down  over  the  cover. 

24.  In  case  of  heavy  guns  are  the  shot  attached  to 
the  sabot  ? 

They  are  generally  without  a  sabot. 

25.  How  is  it  with  shells  .? 

They  are  strapped  to  sabots  made  of  thick  plank,  with 
strips  of  tin,  as  in  case  of  strapping  shot  for  field-service. 


88  HAND-BOOK   OF  ARTILLERY. 

26.  How  is  it  with  canister  for  siege  and  sea-coast 
guns  ? 

They  have  no  sabot;  the  tin  is  turned  over  the  iron 
bottotT). 

27.  How  i.s  it  with  canisters  for  the  8-in.  siege  and 
sea-coast  howitzers  > 

They  are  attached  to  sabots  in  the  same  way  as  p^;- 
the  fi('ld-howitzer  canisters.  The  sabot  for  the  ' 
siege  howitzer  has  a  IieiTiispherical  bottom  and  the  sea- 
coast  a  conical  one,  to  suit  tlie  connecting  surface  be- 
tween the  cylinder  of  the  bore  and  the  chamber  in  these 
pieces. 

28.  Are  sabots  used  with  grape  shot  ? 
Yes,  in  the  8-inch  sea-coast  howitzer. 

29.  What  is  its  form,  and  how  fastened.? 

It  is  conical  ;  and  may  be  fastened  to  the  low^er  plate 
with  screws,  or  the  pin  may  be  made  long  enough  to 
pass  through  it;  or  else  the  sabot  may  be  inserted  into 
the  piece  separately  from  the  stand  of  grape. 

30.  What  is  the  object  of  fixing  shot  or  shells  to 
wooden  bottoms  ? 

To  prevent  injury  to  brass  cannon  ;  and  to  insure  the 
fuze  of  a  shell  being  retained  in  the  axis   of  the  piece. 

31.  What  proportion  does  the  weight  of  one  shot  bear 
to  that  of  another? 

The  proportion  is  as  the  cubes  of  their  diameters. 

32.  How  is  the  weight  of  a  cast-iron  shot  or  shell 
determined  r 

Multiply  the  cube  of  the  diameter  of  the  shot  in 
inches,  or  the  difference  of  the  cubes  of  the  exterior 
and  interior  diameters  of  the  shell  by  0.134  for  the 
weight  in  pounds.  Ip  case  of  lead  balls,  the  multiplier 
is  0.214. 

33.  How  is  the  diameter  of  a  cast-iron  shot  of  a 
given  weight  found  } 


PROJECTILES. 


89 


Drvide  the  weight  in  pounds   by  0.134,  and    extract 
the  cube  root  of  the  quotient,  which  will  be  the  diame- 
ter in  inches, 
qrji       34.   How  is  the  quantity  of  powder  which  a  shell 

J  will  contain  found  ? 

Multiply  the  cube  of  the  interior  diameter  of  the 
shell  in  inches,  by  0.01744  for  the  weight  of  powder  in 
pounds. 

Note. — The  above  multipliers  are  found  as  follows  : 
Suppose  Wio  represent  the  weight  of  a  body,  D  its  densi- 
ty, V  its  volume,  and  g  the  weight  of  the  unit  of  mass, 
then  W=^D  Vg.  Now,  if  a  cubic  inch  be  taken  as  the  unit 
of  volume,  then  g  will  be  numerically  f-f  y-J  pounds. — 

jt 
Hence    PT^DF-J  f.^  1=0.03620 1  ;  DF=0.03620D— q?^ 

6 

(supposing  d  to  be  the  diameter,  and  the  body  to  be 
spherical)  =0.036201x0.5236i)-:/3  =0.0189552)^3.  if  we 

now  substitute  for  D.  the  specific  gravity  of  cast-iron 
shot  or  shells=7.000,  we  have,  fr=7x0. 018955^/3  = 
0.134c/ ^  ;  and  if  for  D  we  substitute  the  specific  gravi- 
ty of  lead,  ^=:0.2142g?3  ;  and  in  case  of  powder,  W^= 
0.01744of3. 

For  diameters,  weights  and  charges,  see  Tables,  pages 
98-101. 

35.  When  shot  are  heated  to  a  white  heat,  what  ex- 
pansion takes  place  .^ 


Calibre. 

8-in. 

4. 

^ 

24 

18 

12    ft 

Expansion,         inches, 

0.149 

0.11 

0.10 

0.08 

0.06 

0.04 

36.  Do  heated  shot  retain  a  permanent  enlargement  .^ 
Yes  ;  in  ca&e  of  the  8-in.  shot,  for  example,  after  the 


90  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

first  coolincr  the  enlargement  is  0.054  in.  ;  and,  after 
the  second,  0.099  in. 

37.  Are  the  ij^nitins:  powers  of  a  hot  shot  destoyed 
bv  ricochotting  upon  the  water? 

No;  a  shot,  properly  heated,  will  ignite  wood  after 
having  struck  the  water  several  times. 

38.  What  is  the  peculiarity  of  cartridges  for  hot  j-^^ 
shot?  _        _         I-  ^ 

There  are  two  cartridge  bags,  one  being  inserted, 
choke  foremost  in  another  of  the  next  higher  calibre, 
and  the  end  of  the  latter  folded  under. 

39.  Explain  the  process  of  loading  with  hot  shot. 
The  piece  should  be  sponged  with  great  care,  and  the 

worm  frequently  passed  into  the  bore.  As  a  precau- 
tion, it  is  well  to  insert  a  wet  sponge  just  before  putting 
in  the  ball.  The  muzzle  is  sufficiently  eleveted  to  allow 
the  ball  to  roll  down  tlie  bore,  the  cartridge  is  inserted, 
the  mouth  of  the  outer  bag  foremost,  the  fold  down, 
and  carefully  pushed  home  without  breaking  it ;  a  dry 
hay-wad  is  placed  upon  it,  and  rammed  once;  then  a 
clay  or  wet  hay-wad,  and  rammed  twice  ;  and  finally, 
if  firing  at  angles  of  depression,  a  wad  of  clay  a  half- 
calibre  in  length,  or  a  wet  hay-wad  is    put   on  the  ball. 

40.  May  the  ball  cool  in  the  gun  without  igniting  the 
charge  ? 

Yes,  with  propor  precaution  in  loading.  The  piece, 
however,  should  be  fifed  with  as  little  delay  as  possible, 
as  the  vapor,  which  arises  from  the  action  of  the  hot 
Ijall  on  the  water  contained  in  the  wad,  diminishes  the 
strength  of  the  powder. 

41.  What  means  are  afforded  at  the  sea-board  forts 
for  heating  shot  ? 

.  Furnaces  for  this  purpose  are  erected,  which  hold  60 
or  more  shot. 


PROJECTILES.  91 

42.  What  length  of  time  is  required  to  heat  them  to 
a  red  heat  ? 

The  shot  beino;  placed  and  the    furnace    cold,  it  re- 
quires one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes;  but  after   the   ^q^ 
furnace  is  once  heated,  a  24-pdr.  shot  is  brought  to   ' 
a  red  heat  in  twenty-five  minutes  ;  the  3'2-pdr.  and  42- 
pdr.  shot  require  a  few  minutes  longer. 

43.  Describe  o^rates  for  heatino;  ^^hot. 

In  siege  and  other  batteries,  where  there  are  no  fur- 
naces, a  grate  is  used.  It  consists  of  four  bars  1.75 
inches  square,  three  feet  long,  placed  four  inches  apart 
on  three  iron  stands,  one  foot  in  height.  It  is  placed 
in  an  excavation  one  foot  in  depth,  of  the  width  of 
the  grate,  perpendicular  at  the  back  and  side,  open 
in  front,  the  leo;s  restinp;  on  bricks  or  stones  rising 
about  four  or  five  inches  from  the  bottom.  A  rooi 
is  made  over  it  with  hoops  of  flat  iron,  covered  w'ith 
sods  and  eighteen  incijes  of  earth,  having  in  the  back 
part  a  chimney  six  inches  square.  The  shot  are  placed 
on  the  back  part  of  the  grate,  leaving  one-fourth  of  the 
front  part  free;  and  under  and  on  the  front  part  the 
wood  is  put,  cut  in  pieces  about  fourteen  inches  long 
and  two  inches  thick.  A  thick  sod  is  used  as  a  regis- 
ter, to  regulate  the  draught  of  the  chimney,  so  that  no 
flame  can  issue  from  the  front.  This  grate,  which  will 
contain  about  fifteen  24-pdr.  balls,  heats  them  to* a  red 
heat  in  an  hour,  and  will  supply  three  guns. 

44.  How  are  wads  for  firing  hot  shot  made  } 

Of  hay  ;  by  twisting  from  the  hay  a  rope  of  an  inch 
or  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and  then  commencing 
at  one  end,  and  doubling  it  up  about  one  calibre  in 
length,  twisting  it  all  the  time  until  it  becomes  nearly 
large  enough,  v^'hen  the  rope  is  wound  around  the  wad 
popendicular  to  its  axis,  and  fastened  with  a  hitch. — 
Or  the  hay  may  be  rammed  in  afor?n  of  proper  calibre, 


92  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

QQ-,   and  then  bound  with  spun  yarn,  and    afterwards 
-J   rammed  a  second  time. 

45.  Have  not  shot  been  almost  entirely  superseded? 
Yes,  since  the  adoption  of  the   method    of   throwing 

laro-e  hollow  shot  from  long  pieces.  These  require  but 
little  preparation,  can  be  used  at  once,  and  are  more 
terrible  in  their  effects. 

46.  What  are  rij^g  or  grommet  wads,  and  their  use  ? 
They   consist  of"  a  ring  of  rope    yarn,  about   0.7  in. 

thick,  with  two  pieces  of  strong  twine  tied  across  at 
right  angles  to  each  other.  The  size  of  the  ring  is  the 
full  diameter  of  the  bore,  in  order  that  it  may  fit  tight, 
and  stop  the  windage.  They  increase  the  accuracy  of 
fire,  and  are  to  be  preferred  when  the  object  of  the  wad 
is  to  retain  the  ball  in  its  place,  as  in  firing  at  a  depres- 
sion. They  stop  the  windage  best  when  placed  behind 
the  ball.  They  may  be  attached  to  the  straps,  or  to  the 
ball  by  twine,  or  may  be  inserted  like  other  wads  after 
the  ball. 

47.  How  diiejunk-ivads  made  ;  and  for  what  are  they 
used  ? 

Wad-moulds  for  each  calibre, — consisting  of  two  cast- 
iron  cylinders  of  different  diameters  set  in  oak,  or  of 
two  strong  pieces  of  oak,  strapped  with  iron  and  joined 
by  a  hinge, — are  employed  in  their  manufacture.  The 
junk,  after  having  been  picked,  is  compressed  by  being 
beaten  in  the  smaller  mould  with  a  mavl^nd  cylindrical 
drift — the  latter  nearly  of  the  size  of  the  mould — until 
it  assumes  the  requisite  dimensions;  it  is  then  taken 
out  by  raising  the  upper  part  of  the  inould,  and  closely 
wr9,pped  with  rope  yarn,  passed  over  it  in  the  direction 
of  the  axis  of  the  cylinder,  and  fastened  by  a  few  r-jfjA 
turns  around  the  middle  of  the  wad.  It  is  then  '- 
placed  in  the  large  mould,  and  again  beaten  with  the 
maul  and  drift,  until  its  diameter  is  increased  to  that  of 


PROJECTILES.  93 

the  mould,  when  it  is  taken  out  and  its  diameter  verified 
by  a  wooden  gauge  corresponding  to  the  large  shot- 
gauge  of  the  calibre.  These  wads  are  used  for  proving 
cannon. 

48.  Describe  the  process  of  loading  field  shells. 
They  are  set  up  on  their  sabots,  the  charges  measured 

out  in  the  proper  powder  measure,  and  poured  in  through 
a  copper  funnel.  The  fuze-plugs  are  then  driven  in  with 
a  mallet,  allowing  the  tops  to  project  above  0.1  in.,  care 
being  taken  not  to  split  them.  The  holes  in  the  plugs 
are  then  carefully  reamed  out,  and  stopped  with  tow- 
wads,  which  are  pressed  in  firmly  with  a  round  stick. 

49.  Describe  the  process  of  loading  spherical  case 
shot. 

The  shot  having  been  cleaned,  the  balls  are  put  in. 
A  stick  with  a  less  diameter  than  the  fuze-hole,  and 
having  a  groove  on  each  side  of  it,  is  inserted  and 
pushed  to  the  bottom  of  the  chamber  by  working  the 
balls  inside.  The  shot  is  then  placed  in  a  sand-bath  or 
oven,  and  brought  to  a  proper  temperature  to  leceive 
the  sulphur,  which  in  a  melted  state  is  poured  in  to  fill 
up  the  interstices  between  the  balls ;  the  shot  is  allowed 
to  cool,  and  the  sulphur  to  harden,  when  the  slick  is 
withdrawn,  and  the  sulphur  adhering  to  the  sides  of  the 
eye  and  the  surface  of  the  shot  is  removed.  If  a  fuze- 
plug  and  paper-fuze  are  to  be  used,  the  charge  is  poured 
in  and  the  plug  inserted  exactly  as  incase  of  a  shell  ; 
but,  if  the  Bormann  fuze  is  to  be  used  the  charge  ^^^^ 
is  inserted  and  the  stopper  and  fuze  screwed  into  L 
their  places,  care  being  taken  betore  placing  the  fuze  in 
position  to  puncture  the  covering  of  the  magazine,  so 
that  the  fire  can  communicate  with  the  charge. 

Spherical  case  are  now  usually  loaded  by  putting  in  the 
bullets,  and  pouring  melted  sulphur  in  until  the  case  is 
full.     After  the  sulphur   has   cooled,  the  space  for  the 


94  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

powder  is  bored  out  by  a  cutter,  which  removes  both 
the  sulphur  and  portions  of  the  bullets  from  the  space. 
This  is  a  quicker  method,  and  gives  a  more  compact 
projectile. 

50.  What  advantages  does  this  mode  of  loading  pos- 
sess over  the  old  one  ? 

In  the  old  mode  there  was  a  liability  to  accidents,  and 
if  the  powder  remained  in  for  any  length  of  time  before 
being  used,  it  was  ground  up  and  became  impaired. 
By  the  new  mode  the  powder  can  be  placed  in  the  small 
chamber,  and  allowed  to  remain  without  fear  of  damage 
or  danger,  and  be  ready  for  use  when  required.  Being, 
besides,  in  a  compact  mass,  instead  of  scattered  among 
the  bullets,  its  power  is  much  greater,  and  it  acts  more 
effectively  in  throwing  the  bullets  outward  from  the 
centre. 

51.  Describe  the  process  of  filling  Mortar-shells.        j 
Having  been  inspected  to  see  that  they  are  clean,  dry, 

and  in  good  order,  place  them  on  a  block  made  for  the 
purpose,  or  on  rings  of  rope,  or  in  indentations  in  the 
floor  of  the  rragazlne,  or  on  the  ground,  with  the  e3'es 
up.  The  charge  measured  out  in  a  powder-measure  is 
poured  in  through  a  funnel.,  and  any  incendiary  compo- 
sition, such  as  pieces  of  port-fire,  rock-fire,  &.C.,  is  in- 
serted. In  the  mean  time  the  fuze  is  cut  to  the  proper 
^QQ-ilength  according  to  the  range,  by  resting  it  in  a 
-'groove  made  in  the  block,  or  inserting  it  in  a  hole 
made  in  a  block,  or  in  a  post,  and  sawing  it  across  with 
the  fuze-saw  ;  or  the  fuze  may  be  bored  through  wi(h 
a  gimlet  perpendicularly  to  the  axis,  at-  the  proper 
point. 

The  fuze  is  then  tried  in  the  eye,  and  should  enter  | 
of  its  length.  If  it  does  not,  it  may  be  reduced  by  rasp- 
ing. The  head  of  it  is  covered  with  tow  to  prevent  the 
breaking  of  the  composition,  the  fuze-setter  placed  on, 


PROJECTILES.  95 

and  the  fuze  driven  with  the  mallet  until  the  head  pro- 
jects not  more  than  0.2  in.  to  0.4  in.  above  the  surface 
of  the  shell.  These  shells  are  generally  filled  and  the 
fuzes  driven  in  the  battery  magazines,  as  they  are  re- 
quired. 

52.  How  are  shells  for  columbiads  and  heavy  guns 
loaded? 

In  the  same  way  as  mortar-shells  ;  but  as  paper  fuzes 
interted  in  wooden  or  bronze  fuze-plugs  are  used  instead 
of  wooden  fuzes,  the  plug  only  is  driven  into  its  place, 
and  stopped  with  tow  after  the  bursting  charge  has  been 
poured  through  it  into  the  shell. 

53.  How  are  condemned^  shot  and  shell  marked.? 
With  an  X  made  with  the  cold-chisel. 

54.  How  should  balls  be  preserved  ? 

They  should  be  carefully  lacquered  as  soon  as  possible 
after  they  are  received.  When  it  becomes  necessary 
to  renew  the  lacquer,  the  old  lacquer  should  be  removed 
by  rolling  or  scraping  the  balls,  which  should  never  be 
heated  for  that  purpose. 

55.  How  should  grape  and  canister  shot  be.  preser- 
ved ? 

They  should  be  oiled  or   lacquered,  put  in  piles, p^^o 
or  in  strong   boxes  on    the  ground  floor,  or  in   dry^ 
cellars;  each  parcel  marked  with  its  kind,  calibre,  and 
number? 

56.  How  are  balls  piled  ? 

Balls  are  piled  according  to  kind  and  calibre,  under 
cover  if  practicable,  in  a  place  where  there  is  a  free 
circulation  of  air,  to  facilitate  which  the  piles  should  be 
made  narrow,  if  the  locality  permits  ;  the  width  of  the 
bottom  tier  may  be  from  12  to  14  balls  according  to  cal- 
ibre. 

Prepare  the  ground  for  the  base  of  the  pile  by  raising 
it  above  the  surroundinor  ground  so  as  to  throw  off  the 


96  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

water;  level  it,  ram  it  well,  and  cover  it  with  a  layer  of 
screened  sand.  Make  the  bottom  of  the  pile  with  a 
tier  of  iin?>erviceable  balls  buried  about  two-thirds  of 
their  diameter  in  the  sand  ,  this  base  may  be  made  per- 
manent ;  clean  the  base  well  and  form  the  pile,  putting 
{he  fuze  holes  oi'  shells  downwards  \n  ihe  intervals,  and 
not  resting  on  the  shells  below.  Each  ])ile  is  marked 
with  the  number  of  serviceable  balls  it  contains.  The 
base  may  be  made  of  bricks,  concrete,  stone,  wood,  or 
with  borders  and  braces  of  iron. 

57.  How  should  fixed  ammunition  for  cannon  be  stor- 
ed ? 

Either  in  boxes  or  placed  in  piles,  formed  of  two  par- 
allel rows  of  cartridges,  witli  the  sabots  together:  in  4 
tiers  for  12-pdr.  and  5  for  6-pdr.;  chock  the  lower  tier 
with  stiips  of  wood  fastened' with  small  nails;  put  a 
layer  of  tow  2  in.  thick  between  the  shot ;  let  the  piles 
rest  on  the  planks  if  there  is  no  floor,  and  cover  them 
with  tarpaulins;  have  the  place  swept,  and  the  cart- 
ridge-bags brushed  off.  Leave  a  passage  of  18  in.  be- 
tween the  double  rows,  and  keep  them  2  feet  from 
he  walls.  Fixed  ammunition  should  not  be  put 
into  powder  magazines  if  it  can  be  avoided;  it  should 
be  kept  in  a  dry  place  above  the  ground  floor  if  practi- 
cable ;  the  store-rooms  should  be  always  aired  in  fine 
weather,  the  piles  should  be  taken  down,  and  made  up 
again  every  siz  months  at  most,  the  bags  examined  and 
repaired,  and  the  damaged  cartridges  broken  up.  A 
ticket  on  each  pile  should  show  the  number  and  kind 
of  cartridges,  the  additions  to  the  pile  and  the  is- 
sues. 

58.  How  should  canister  be  piled? 

Like  fixed  ammunition,  in  4  tiers  for  24's  and  18's  ; 
und  5  for  I'i's  and  ij'».  Empty  canisters  in  10  or  12 
tiers  ,   the  bottoms  and  covers  separately. 


104][| 


PROJECTILES.  97 

59.  How  should  cartridge  bags  filled  be  piled  ? 

Like  fixed  ammunition,  or  packed  in  boxes  or  bar- 
rels. 

60.  How  should  loaded  shells  be  piled? 

On  the  ground  floor  of  a  secure  building  on  planks, 
if  the  floor  is  not  boarded  ;  in  six  tiers  at  most;  the 
fuzes  of  the  lower  tier  in  the  vacant  spaces  between  the 
shells;  those  of  the  other  tiers  turn  downwards,  like  the 
fuze-holes  of  empty  shells  ;  the  piles  should  be  covered 
with  a  tarpaulin.  Loaded  shells  should  never  be  put  into 
magazmes,  except  from  absolute  necessity. 

61.  How  should  fire-balls  be  preserved? 

In  a  cool  place,  separated  from  each  other  by  sha- 
vings or  straw,  if  they  are  piled  up. 

62.  How  is  the  nutTjJ^er  of  shots  or  shells  in  a  pile 
computed,  of  whatever  form  the  pile  may  be  ? 

By  multiplying  the  sum   of  the    three  parallel  edges, 
1051 '^^  one-third  of  the  number  of  balls  in  a  triangular 
-•face. 

63.  What  is  meant  by  the  three  parallel  edges  of  the 
pile  ? 

Of  the  rectangular  or  long  pile,  they  consist  of  the 
two  largest  bottom  rows  and  top-row  ;  of  the  square 
pile,  of  two  bottom  rows  and  top-shot ;  and  of  the  tri- 
angular pile,  of  one  bottom  row,  the  shot  at  the  opposite 
angle,  and  that  at  the  top. 

64.  How  is  the  number  of  shot  in  a  triangular  face 
computed  ? 

Multiply  the  number  in  the  bottom  row,  plus  one,  by 
half  the  number  in  the  bottom  row,  for  the  number  re- 
quired. 

65.  How  is  the  shot  contained  in  the  top  row  of  a  rec- 
tangular pile  calculated  ? 

One  added  to  the  difference  between  the  long  and 
short  bottom  rows  will  be  the  number  required. 


98 


HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY 


66.  How  is  the  shot  in  an  incomplete  pile  calcu- 
lated ? 

By  first  computing  the  number  in  the  pile  considered 
as  complete,  then  the  number  of  what  the  upper  part 
ought  to  consist ;  and  the_  difference  of  these  piles  will 
be  the  number  contained  in  the  frustum  or  incomplete 
portion. 


DIAMETERS    OP    SHOT,    SHELLS    AND    SPHERICAL    CASE, 


13-in 

10-in. 

8-in. 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

6 

in. 
1>2.87 

in. 
9.87 

in. 

7.88 

in. 
6.84 

in. 
6.25 

in. 
5.68 

in. 
5.17 

in. 
4.52 

in. 
3.58 

[106 


WEIGHTS  OF   SHOT,  SHELLS    AND    SPHERICAL    CASE. 


iiJ 

■OTu'^S 

OlSi 

Mortars. 

Guns  and  Howitssers. 

r  « 

B 

B 

a 

c 

s 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

R 

o 

3 

n 

e^ 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

Shot, 

128 

65 

_ 

_ 

_ 

42.7 

32.6 

24.4 

18.5 

12.3 

6.1 

Sliells, 

101 

50.5 

197 

87.5 

44.5 

31 

22.5 

17 

13.4 

8.4 

Splier.  case. 

- 

30 

- 

- 

- 

20.3 

16 

11.86  )    8.7 

6.1    3.06 

The   8-inch    Mortar   Shell    is   used    for    the    Siege 
Howitzer* 


PROJECTILES. 


WEIGHT    OF    CANISTER    SHOT. 


42 

32 

24-pdr.  Gun 

and  8  in. 

Siege  HowitzPr 

18 

1^^ 

6 

12  pd 

r.  Howitzer. 

Field. 

Mountain. 

lbs. 
1.5 

lbs. 
1.14 

lbs. 
0.86 

lbs. 
0.64 

lbs. 
0.43 

lbs. 
0.32 

lbs. 
0.21 

lbs. 
0.16 

Musket 
ball. 

WEIGHTS  OF  FINISHED  CANISTERS  AND  NUMBER  OF  SHOT 


Siege  and  Garrison  Guns. 

8-in.  Howitzer. 

42 

lbs. 

48 
27   . 

32 

24 

18 

12 

Siege. 

Sea-Coast. 

Weights, 
No.  of  shot.    - 

lbs. 
37 

27 

lbs. 
29 
27 

lbs. 
23 

27 

lbs. 
15 

27 

lbs. 
53.5 

48 

lbs. 
54.5 

46 

107] 


WEIGHT    OF    GRAPE-SHOT    AND    GRAPE-SHOT    STANDS. 


8-in. 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

Grape  shot, 
Stands, 

lbs. 
6.1 
74.5 

lbs. 

4.2 

51.2 

lbs. 

3;15 
39.7 

lbs. 
2.4 
30.6 

lbs. 

1.8 

22.1 

lbs. 
1.14 
14.8 

100  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

WEIGHTS    OF    FIXED     AMMUNITION. 


For  Guns. 

For  Howitzers. 

Weights. 

12 

6 

32 

24 

12 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

CartridRj',  including  Cart-  ^  large  charge, 

2.56 

1.30 

3.88 

2.70 

ridg<'  block,                        I  sniuU    " 

2.06 

1.05 

3.10 

2.34 

1.05 

Phot  strapped,        _        -        .        -        - 

12.75 

6.28 

Shell  !^tra|)pod  and  charged,  -         - 

_ 

_ 

24.60 

18.80 

9.35 

Spherical  case,  strapped  and  charged. 

11.43 

5.75 

31.00 

23.00 

11.30 

Canister,  with  Sabot,    -       -        -        - 

14.80 

7.32 

28.50 

21.25 

10.80 

fShot,     -        - 

15.40 

7.60 

Round  of  Ammunition     ^»;*;|l,7„f '""^" 
complete,                      1  g,,,,;rical  case, 

27.70 

21.15 

10.50 

13.50 

6.82 

34.10 

25.34 

12  50 

L  Canister, 

16.91 

8.40 

31.60 

23.60 

11.85 

CHARGES    FOR    MORTAR    SHELLS. 


I  of  the  shell  filled  with  powder, 
Charge  <  to  burst  the  shell, 

•(  to  blow  out  the  fuze, 

'   o  '  (     other  composition. 


13-in. 

10-in. 

8-in. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

11.0 

5.0 

2.9 

6.0 

2.0 

1.0 

0.6 

0.5 

0.4 

7.0 

3.0 

1.12 

0.8 

0.6 

0.6 

Coehorn. 


lbs.  oz. 
1.0 
0.8 
0.2 


CHARGES    FOR    FIELD    SHELLS. 


[108 


rto  fill  the  shell,  - 
Powder  |  to  burst  do.  - 
required.,'  to  blow  out  the  fuze  plug. 

(for  service  charge,     - 


■a 

a. 

n 

s 

CJ 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

1.5 

1.0 

0.8 

0.11 

0.8 

0.5 

0.2 

0.2 

0.1 

1.0 

012 

0.7 

Remarks. 


Rifle  or  mus- 
ket powder  is 
used  in  pre- 
ference! to  can- 


LABORATORY   STORES.  101 

CHARGES    FOR    SPERTCAL    CASE    SHOT. 
Charge. 


No.  of  musket  balls, 

Bursting  cliarge  of  powder,  oz., 

Weight  of  shot  loaded,  lbs',, 


8-ln. 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

486 

306 

225 

175 

120 

78 

15 

9 

8 

6 

5 

45 

59  5 

.39 

30  13 

22  75 

16  3 

11 

CHARGES  FOR  SHELLS  FOR  COLUMBIADS  AND  HEAVY 
GUNS. 


Charge  of 

Columbiads. 

-■ — — — — -m 

For  Gdns. 

Powder. 

10-in. 

8-in. 

42 

32 

24 

18 

12 

To  fill  the  shell. 
To  burst        " 
To  blow  out  the 

fuze  plug. 
For  ordinary  ser- 
vice,        -      1 

Ibs.oz. 
3  4 
1  6 

0  10 

3  0 

lbs.  oz. 
1  12 
I  0 

0  8 

1  8 

Ibs.oz. 
1  8 
0  12 

0  6 

1  4 

Ibs.oz. 
1  5 
0  11 

0  2 

1  0 

Ibs.oz. 
1  0 
0  8 

0  2X 
12 

Ibs.oz. 
0  11 
0  7 

0  10 

lbs.  oz. 
0  8 
0  5 

0  1 

0  7 

109] 


PART    X. 


LABORATORY  STORES. 


1.  What  is  Q.fuze? 

The  contrivance  by  which  fire  is  communicated  to 
the  charge  in  a  shell.  It  consists,  essentially,  of  a 
highly  inflammable  composition  inclosed  in  a  wood,  metal 
or  paper  case. 


102  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

2.  What  fuzes  are  used  in  the  United  Stales  ser- 
vice r 

Wooden,  paper,  the  Borman,  and  the  United  States 
sea-coast  fuzes. 

3.  Describe  the  wooden  fuze. 

It  consists  of  a  conical  plug  of  wood,  of  the  proper 
size  for  the  fuze-hole  of  the  shell  with  which  it  is  to  be 
fired.  The  axis  of  this  plug  is  bored  out  cylindrical!}', 
from  the  laige  down  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
small  end,  wli^h  is  left  solid.  At  the  large  end  a  cup 
is  hollowed  out,  and  the  outside  of  the  plug  is  divided 
into  inches  and  parts,  generally  tenths,  commencing  at 
the  bottom  of  the  cup.  The  cylindrical  space  is  filled 
with  composition,  pounded  hard,  and  as  regularly  as 
possible,  and  the  cup  filled  with  inealed  powder,  moist- 
ened with  whisky  or  alcohol.  The  rate  of  burning  is 
determined  by  experiment,  and  marked  on  a  water-proof 
cap  which  is  tied  over  the  cup.  Knowing  the  time  any 
shell  is  to  occupy  in  its  flight,  the  fuze  is  cut  off  with  a 
saw  at  the  proper  division,  and  firmly  set  in  the  fuze 
hole  with  a  fuze-set  and  mallet.  Say  the  fuze  burns 
5"  to  the  inch.  If  a  shell  be  10"  in  reaching  the  mark 
two  inches  of  fuze  will  burst  ii  as  it  strikes.  If  it  takes 
8"  to  reach  the  mark,  1  6-10  in.  Will  be  cut  ofF,^--^ 
&C.  L^^" 

4.  What  is  the  disadvantage  of  this  fuze  ? 

Its  irregularity,  it  being  very  difficult  to  pound  the 
composition  so  that  equal  lengtlis  will  burn  in  equal 
times.  The  shell  may  either  burst  too  soon,  and  a  great 
part  of  its  effect  be  lost }  or  it  may  burst  after  bury- 
ing itself  in  the  ground,  or  it  may  burst  after  passing 
the  proper  point.  This  irregularity  of  burning  is  com- 
mon to  all  fuzes  where  the  composition  is  driven  in 
successive  layers  in  a  column  which  burns  in  the  same 
direction. 


LABORATORY  STORES.  103 

5.  What  is  the  composition  for  mortar-fuzes  ? 


No. 

Nitre. 

Sulphur. 

Mealed 
Powder. 

Time  of 
burning  1  in. 

Remarks. 

1 
2 
3 

1 
2 

1 
1 

3 

2A,' 

1 

3.8  sec. 
5       " 
2.2    '< 

For  Siege  Mortars. 
'•   Sea-Coast  " 
"  8  ill  Howitzers.^ 

6.  Is  the  wooden  fuze  used  ? 
Yes  ;  for  mortars. 

7.  Are  these  fuzes  always  cut  before  being  inserted 
in  the  shell .? 

Generally  they  are  ;  but  they  are  sometimes  bored 
through  at  the  proper  position  instead  of  being  sawed. 

8.  Are  they  ever  cut  obliquely.? 

Yes,  when  the  fuze  is  so  long  as  to  render  it  likely 
that  it  will  reach  the  bottom  of  the  shell  ;  for  by  cutting 
it  perpendicular  to  the  axis,  the  whole  base  of  the  wood 
might  be  driven  in  contact  with  the  bottom  of  the 
shell,  and  prevent  the  lighted  composition  from  set- 
ting fire  to  the  bursting  charge. 

9.  Describe  i[\Q.  jJcpei' fuze. 

It  consists  of  a  conical  paper  case,  containing  the 
composition,  whose  rate  of  burning  is  shown  by  the 
color  of  the  case,  as  follows  : 


111 


Black, 
Red, 
Green, 
Yellow, 


burns 


-y^  to  the  inch. 

O//  II 

4//  il 

5// 


Each  fuze  is  made  two  inches  long,  and  the  yellow 
consequently  burns  10",  For  any  shorter  time  the  fuze 
is  cut  with  a  sharp  knife.  With  this  fuze  is  used  a  fuze 
plug,  having  a  conical  opening,  which  is  reamed  out  to 
fit  the  paper  case  when  the  shell  is  loaded,  and  the  fuze 
is  then  pressed  in  with  the  thumb. 


104 


HAND-BOOK   OF  ARTILLERY. 


10.  AVhal  is  the  great  advantage  of  this  fuze  ? 
Its  sinij)lirity  and  the  little  trouble  required  to  place 
it  in  the  shell,  which  renders  unnecessary  the  numerous 
and  complicated  instruments,  such  as  saws,  fuze-setter, 
and  extractor,  iiles,  &.C.,  which  were  formerly  used  in 
field  artillery. 
.  11.   What  is  the  composition  of  paper-fuzes  made  of? 


Mealed 
Powder. 

Sulphur. 

Black, 
Red,    - 
Green, 
Yellow,       - 

1 
8 
8 
8 

0 
3 

3.5 
4.0 

12.  Describe  the  Belgian  or  Bormann-fuze. 


LABORATORY  STORES. 


105 


no.  2. 


TOP    VIEW. 


SECTION 


Fig.  3. 


The  fuze-case  is  made 
of  metal  (a  composi-p^ ^^ 
tion  of  lead  and  tin,)L 
and  coasiists,  Fig.  2,  first 
of  a  short  cylinder,  hav- 
ing at  one  end  a  horse- 
shoe-shaped indentation; 
one  end  only  of  which 
communicates  with  the 
magazine  of  the  fuze 
placed  in  the  centre. 

This  horse-shoe  inden- 
tation extends  nearly  to 
the  other  end  of  the  cyl- 
inder, a  thin  layer  of  the 
metal  only  intervening. 
This  is  graduated  on  the 
outside  into  equal  parts 
representing  seconds  and 
quarter  seconds  (see  Fig. 
4.)  In  the  bottom  of 
this  channel  a  smooth 
layer  of  the  composition 
is  placed,  with  a  piece  of 
wick  or  yarn  underneath 
it.  On  this  is  placed  a 
piece  of  metal,  the  cross 
section  of  which  is  wedge 
shaped  (see  Fig.  3  ;)  and 
this,  by  machinery,  is 
pressed  down  upon  the 
compositionsealing  it  her- 
metically. The  cylindri- 
cal opening  represented 
at  a,  Fig.  2,  is  filled  with 


106 


HAND-BOOK   OF    ARTILLERY 


FIGA. 


nas 


^  -  o-|fi^^  powder  and  cov- 
-■eicd  with  a  sheet  of 
tin,  which  is  soldered, 
closino;  the 
from  the  external  air 

Before  using  the  fuze, 
several  holes  are  punch^' 
ed  through  this  sheet  of 
tin,  to  allow  the  flame 
to  enter  the  shell.  On 
the  side  of  the  fuze  the 
thread  of  a  screw  is  cut 
which  fits  into  one  cut 
on  the  inside  of  the  fuze- 
hole,  and  the  fuze  is 
screwed  into  the  shell 
with  a  wrench. 

The  thin  layer  of  met- 
al over   the   composition 
is    cut    through    with    a 
gouge   or  chisel   or  even 
a  pen-knife,  at  the  inter- 
val    marked    with     the 
number  of  seconds  which 
we  wish  the  fuze  to  burn. 
To  prevent   the  metal  of 
this  fuze,  which  is  soft,  from  being  driven  into  the  shell 
by  the  explosive  force  of  the  charge,  a  circular  piece  of 
iron,  witii  a  hole  through  its  centre,  and  the  thread  of  a 
screw  on  the  outside.  Fig.    5,  is  screwed  into  the  fuze- 
hole  before  the  fuze  is  inserted. 

13.  To  what  kind  of  artillery  has  this  fuze  been  con- 
fined .? 

Principally  to  light  artillery,  in  firing  shells,  and  par- 


LABORATORY  STORES.  107 

ticularly  spherical   case,  where  regularity  and  certainty 

are  essential  requisites. 

^^A-^      14.  Mention  one  important   advantage    of    this 

^^^-Jfuze. 

The  shells  can  be  loaded,  all  ready  for  use,  and  re- 
nnain  so  any  length  of  time,  perfectly  safe  from  explo- 
sion, as  the  fuze  can  be  screwed  into  its  place,  and  the 
composition  never  exposed  to  external  fire  until  the 
metal  is  cut  through. 

15.  What  is  the  only  operation  under  fire  required  ? 
To  gouge  through  the  metal  at  the  proper  point  with 

any  kind  of  chisel.,  knife,  or  other  instrument. 

16.  Describe  the  United  States  sea-coast  fuze. 

In  the  United  States  a  bronze  fuze-plug  has  been 
adopted  for  heavy  shells  instead  of  the  wooden  one.  It 
fits  the  eye  in  the  same  way,  and  is  retained  by  fric* 
tion. 

It  having  been  found  that  ricochets,  especially  over 
water,  were  apt  to  extinguish  these  fuzes,  a  safety  cap  and 
primer  combined  have  been  adopted  in  the  navy.  A  recess 
in  the  top  is  filled  with  priming  composition  and  cov- 
ered until  the  fuze  is  required  for  use  with  a  leaden  disk 
which  fits  accurately  the  opening.  A  crooked  passage 
filled  with  priming  conveys  the  fire  to  the  fuze  compo- 
sition beneath,  and  prevents  water  from  being  forced  in 
in  suflicient  quantity  to  extinguish  the  fuze. 

17.  When  are  paper  fuzes  for  field-shells  and  spher- 
ical case  inserted  ? 

At  the  moment  of  loading  the  gun,  and  into  wooden 
fuze-plugs  previously  driven  into  the  shell. 

18.  What  is  a  port-fire  ? 

It  consists  of  a  small  paper  case  filled  with  a  highly 
inflammable  but  slow-burning  composition,  the  flame  of 
which  is  very  intense  and  penetrating,  and  cannot  be 
extinguished  by  water. 


108  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLEHY. 

19.  What  is  it  used  for?  [115 
Principally  a'S  an  incendiary  material  in  loading:  shells, 

and  for  communicating  fire  to  the  priming  of  guns  when 
proving  thorn. 

20.  What  does  port-fire  composilion  consist  of? 

Of  nitre,  sulphur,  and  mealed  powder,  in  different  pro- 
portions.    One  kind  is  composed  of — 

Nitre,         -  -  -  -  -  -        65  parts. 

Sulphur,   ------        22.5  " 

Mealed  powder,    -----        12.5  " 

A  port-fire  case,  18  inches  in  length,  filled    with  thi3 
comj)osition.  burns  ten  minutes. 

21.  What  ^re priming-tubes,  and  their  use? 

Small  pipes  having  a  cap  at  one  end,  and  filled  with 
a  composition  for  firing  cannon. 

22.  What  tube  is  in  general  use  in  our  service  ? 
The  friction  primer. 

23.  Describe  it. 

It  consists  of  a  short  tube  of  metal  inserted  into  a  hole 
near  the  top  of  a  longer  tube,  and  soldered  in  that  posi- 
tion. The  short  tube  is  lined  with  a  composition  made 
by  mixing  together  two  parts  of  chloride  of  potassa  and 
one  of  sulphurate  of  antimony,  moistened  with  gunn 
water.  A  serrated  wire  passes  thi'ough  the  short  tube 
and  a  hole  opposite  to  it  in  the  side  of  the  long  one,  the 
open  end  of  the  short  tube  being  compressed  with  nip- 
pers, and  the  wire  at  the  end  of  the  serrated  part  doub- 
led under  te  prevent  any  displacement.  The  other  end 
of  the  wire  is  doubled  and  twisted  by  machinery.  The 
long  tube  is  filled  w'^i  musket  powder,  its  upper  end 
being  closed  with  shellac-varnish,  and  its  lower  with 
shoemakers'  wax, 
l^r.T     24.  What  advantage  does  the  fjiction-tube  pos- 


LABORATORY  STORES.  109 

[t  gives  an  enemy  at  night  no  clue  to  the  position 
of  your  piece,  as  does  the  lighted  port-fire,  or  slow- 
nnatch. 

25.  What  is  a  slow-match? 

A  slow  burning  match  prepared  from  hemp  or  flax, 
slightly  twisted,  soaked  in  a  strong-lye,  or  in  water  hold- 
ing in  solution  sugar  of  lead.  Cotton  rope  well  twisted 
fo.rms  a  good  match  without  any  preparation. 

26.  How  long  does  slow-match  prepared  from  hemp 
or  flax  burn  ? 

Four  to  five  inches  to  the  hour. 

27.  What  is  the  use  of  slow-match  ? 

It  is  used  principally  for  the  purpose  of  retaining  fire 
in  the  shape  of  a  hard-pointed  coal,  to  be  used  in  firing 
cannon,  fire- works,  S^c.  It  wis  formerly  used  in  field 
batteries  for  lighting  the  port-fires  with  which  the  pieces 
were  discharged  ;  but  both  are  now  entirely  superseded 
b}'  the  friction-tube. 

28.  What  is  quick-match  ? 

It  is  a  match  made  of  threads  of  cotton,  or  cotton- 
wick,  steeped  in  gummed  brandy  or  whisky,  then  soak- 
ed in  a  paste  of  mealed  powder  and  gummed  spirits,  and 
afterwards  strewed  over  with  mealed   powder. 

29.  How  long  does  it  burn  ? 

One  yard  burns  in  the  open  air  13  seconds. 

30.  What  is  the  use  of  quick-match  ? 

To  fire  stone  and  heavy  mortars,  and  some  times  in 
proving  pieces.  It  is  extensively  used  in  priming  all 
kinds  of  fire-works,  such  as  fire  and  light-balls,  carcas- 
ses, rockets,  priming-tubes,  &c.,  and  in  conveying  fire 
very  rapidly  from  one  portion  of  a  piece  of  fire-work  tb  " 
another. 

..ri^     31.  When  used   for  discharging  cannon,  how  is 
-"the  quick-match  set  fire  to.^ 
D 


110  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

By  a  slow-match,  port-fire,  or  any  other  convenient 
material. 

32.  When  used  to  prime  carcasses,  Sec,  how  is  it  set 
on  fire? 

By  the  flame  from  the  piece. 

33.  What  is  Valenciennes  composition  ? 

A  compound  of  50  parts  of  nitre,  28  of  sulphur,  18  of 
antimony,  and  j-ix  of  rosin. 

34.  VVhat  is  its  use  ? 

As  an  incendiary  composition,  in  charging  shells  for 
the  purpose  of  increasing  their  destructive  property,  by 
setting  five  to  buildings,  ^^^hipping,  &.c. 


[118 
PART  XT. 


PLATFORMS. 

1.  W^ hat  is  d.  platform  1 

A  strong  flooring  upon  which  a  piece  of  ordnance, 
mounted  on  its  carriage,  is  manoeuvred  when  in  bat- 
tery. 

2.  What  is  the  object  of  a  platform  ? 

To  facilitate  the  service  of  heavy  guns  and  mortars, 
and  to  insure  accuracy  of  fire. 

3.  Mention  the  kinds  of  platforms  in  general  use  in 
the  service. 

Fixed  platforms  for  casemate  and  barbette  batteries 
in  fortifications,  which  are  constructed  with  the  works  ; 
the    siege-platform    for   guns   and  howitzers ;    ana  the 


PLATFORMS.  Ill 

siege  platform   for  mortars  ;  the   rail-platform,  and  the 
:icochet-platform. 

4.  What  properties  should  wooden  platforms  pos- 
sess ? 

Strength  and  portability. 

5.  Are  the  pieces  composing  siege-platforms  of  the 
same  or  different  dimensions  ? 

All  of  the  same  dimensions,  viz  :  9  feet  long,  5  inches 
wide,   and   Scinches   thick;    except   the   sleepersj-.  .g 
which  in    the  mortar-platform  are    one  foot  less  in^ 
length. 

6.  What  is  the  weight  of  each  piece  ? 
About  fifty  pounds. 

7.  What  is  the  number  of  pieces  in  the  siege-platform 
for  guns  and  howitzers  ? 

Forty-nine  in  all,  one  being  used  as  a  kurter  on  the 
front  part  of  the  platform  to  prevent  the  carriage  from 
running  too  far  forward  ;   and  twelve  for  sleepers. 

8.  Describe  the  method  of  laying  a  platform  for  a 
siege-gun  or  howitzer. 

First  establish  the  centre  line  of  the  embrasure,  and 
stretch  a  cord  on  this  line  from  the  middle  of  the  em- 
brasure to  the  rear.  This  is  the  directrix  of  the  plat- 
form. 

Lay  the  two  outside  sleepers  parallel  to  ih'i^  directrix, 
their  outside  edges  being  fifty-four  inches  distant  from 
it.  The  four  other  sleepers  are  laid  parallel  to  these, 
the  edge  of  each  fifteen  and  a  half  inches  from  the  edge 
of  the  next.  The  upper  surface  of  the  front  ends  of 
these  sleepers  to  be  fifty  inches  on  a  vertical  line  below 
the  sole  of  the  embrasure. 

They  are  laid  with  an  elevation  to  the  rear,  of  one 
and  a  half  inches  to  the  yard,  or  four  and  a  half  inches 
in  their  whole   length.     This  elevation    may  be    deter- 
mined by  placing  a  block  four  and  a  half  inches    high 
d2 


112  UAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

on  the  front  end  of  the  sleeper,  and  laying  a  straight- 
edge., with  a  gunner's  level' on  it  from  this  block  to  the 
rear  end,  then  so  arrange  the  earth  as  to  bring  the  level 
true  in  this  position.  The  next  set  of  sleepers  are  laid 
against  and  inside  of  the  first,  overlapping  them  three 
lOA-i  f^^t>  having  the  rear  ends  inclined  outwards,  so 
-•  that  the  outer  edges  of  the  exterior  ones  shall  be 
each  fifty-four  inches  fiom  the  directrix,  and  the  spaces 
between  the  edges  of  the  others  the  same  as  in  the  first 
set,  viz  :  fifteen  and  a  half  inches  from  the  edge  of  one 
to  the  edge  of  the  next,  all  having  the  elevation  to  the 
rear  of  one  and  a  half  inches  to  the  yard,  and  perfectly 
level  across.  The  earth  is  then  rammed  firmly  around 
these  sleepers,  and  made  even  with  their  upper  surface. 
The  first  deck- plank,  with  a  hole  through  each  end  for 
the  eye-bolts,  is  laid  in  place  perpendicular  to  the  di- 
rectrix, its  holes  corresponding  with  those  in  the  sleep- 
ers. The  hurter  is  placed  on  it,  and  the  bolts  driven 
through  the  corresponding  holes  in  these  pieces.  The 
hurter  should  be  so  placed  as  to  prevent  the  wheels 
from  striking  against  the  epaulment  Avhen  the  piece 
is  in  battery.  If  the  interior  slope  has  a  base  of  two- 
sevenths  of  its  height,  the  inner*  edge  of  the  hurter 
should  be  two  and  a  half  inches  from  the  foot  of  the 
slope.  The  other  planks  are  then  laid,  each  one  forced 
against  the  preceding,  the  last  plank  having  holes  for 
the  rear  eye-bolts.  By  drawing  out  or  driving  in  the 
outside  sleepers  the  holes  through  their  rear  ends  are 
made  to  correspond  with  those  in  the  last  deck-plank, 
and  the  bolts  are  put  in. 

Drive  stakes  in  the  rear  of  each  sleeper,  leaving  their 
tops  level  with  the  upper  surface  of  the  platform.  Raise, 
ram,  and  level  the  earth  in  rear  of  the  platform,  so  as 
to  have  a  plain,  haid  surface  to  support  the  trail  when 
the  recoil  is  great.     The  earth   at  the   sides   should  be 


PLATFORMS.  113 

raised    nearly  as   high   as  the  platform,  and   wellj-.j^^ 
rammed,  giving  it  a  slight  inclination  outwards  to  ' 
allow  the  water  to  run  off. 

9.  What  are  the  dimensions  of  this  platform  ? 
Fifteen  feet  by  nine  feet. 

10.  Why  is  the  elevation  to  the  rear  given  to  this 
platform  ? 

To  diminish  the  recoil  and  to  permit  the  water  to  run 
off. 

11.  Describe  the  platform  for  a  mortar. 

The  mortar-platform  is  composed  of  onl}'  half  the 
number  of  sleepers  and  deck-planks  required  for  the 
gun  or  howitzer  platform.  It  is  laid  level,  and  the  front 
and  rear  deck-planks  are  connected  by  eye-bolts  to 
every  sleeper.  Its  depth  is  one-half  that  of  the  pre- 
vious platform. 

12.  Describe  the  method  of  laying  the  rail-platform. 
The  rail  platform  for  siege-mortars   consists   of  three 

sleepers  and  two  rails  for  the  cheeks  of  the  mortar-bed 
to  slide  on,,  instead  of  the  deck-plank,  and  is  very 
Strong,  and  easily  constructed  and  laid. 

The  pieces  being  notched  to  fit,  are  driven  together 
at  the  battery,  the  distance  between  the  centre  lines  of 
the  rails  being  equal  to  that  between  the  centre  lines  of 
the  cheeks._  The  earth  is  excavated  eight  end  a  half 
inches,  the  df'pth  of  the  sleepers,  and  the  bottom  made 
perfectly  level.  The  directrix  being  exactly  marked 
by  stakes,  the  platform  is  placed  in  position,  its  centre 
line  coinciding  with  a  cord  stretched  between  the  stakes 
marking  the  line  of  fire.  The  earth  is  filled  in  as  high 
as  the  upper  surface  of  the  sleepers,  and  firmly  rammed  ; 
1221  ^"^  stakes  are  driven  in  the  rear  angles  form.ed  by 
-^  the  sleepers  and  rails,  and  one  at  the  rear  end  of 
each  rail. 

13.  Mention  the  parts  of  the  ricochet  platform. 


114                       HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

1  Hurter,         8  ft.  long,         8  in.  wide,  ar 

id  8  in.  th'k 

3  Sleepers,      9  ft.      •'          5^    "     " 

5i       " 

2  planks,       10  ft.  SinM'g,    13    "     "       " 

n      " 

1  plank,           7  ft.  long,          13    "     "       ' 

H     - 

1  piece  plank  2^  ft.  long,        13     "     " 

2i      " 

And  some  stakes. 

14.  Describe  the  method  of  laying  this  platform. 

To  lay  this  platform,  place  the  hurter  perpendicular 
to  the  line  of  fire,  and  secure  it  by  four  stakes,  one  at 
each  end  and  two  in  IVont,  31^  inches  from  the  middle 
towards  each  end  ;  lay  the  three  sleepers  parallel  to  the 
hurter,  the  first  16  inches  from  the  rear  edge  of  the 
hurter,  the  second  43^}  inches  from  the  rear  edge  of  the 
first,  and  the  third  43^  inches  from  the  rear  enge  of  the 
second.  Lay  the  plank  31^  inches  from  the  directrix 
of  the  platform  to  the  centre  of  the  plank.  Place  the 
piece  of  plank  60  inches  from  the  rear  edge  of  the  last 
sleeper,  and  bed  it  in  the  ground.  Place  on  the  last 
sleeper  and  this  piece  of  plank,  the  plank  (7  feet  long,), 
its  front  edge  106  inches  from  the  rear  edge  of  the 
hurter. 


ARTILLERY   CARRIAGES    AND    MACHINES.         115 

123] 

PART  XII. 


ARTILLERY  GARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES. 

1.  What  is  meant  by  artillery  carriages  ? 
Carriages  of  every  description  employed  in  the  artil- 
lery service. 

2.  How  are  such  carriages  classified  ?  ^ 

Into  two  general  divisions  ;  first,  those  carriages  on 
which  artillery  are  mounted,  either  for  firing  or  travel- 
ling ;  and  secondly,  such  as  are  especially  used  for  the 
transportation  of  artillery  ammunition  and  stores. 

3.  What  is  a  gun-carriage  ? 

It  is  a  machine  on  which  apiece  is  mounted  for  ma- 
ncEUvring  and  firing. 

4.  Into  what  classes  may  gun-carriages  be   divided  ? 
Into  movable  and  stationarij  carriages  1 

5.  What  is  the  use  of  movable  carriages  ? 

They  are  used  for  the  transportation  of  the  pieces  as 
well  as  for  firing  them,  and  are  mounted  on  large  wheels. 
They  are  furnished  with  limbers. 

6.  Describe  the  movable  carriage. 

It  consists  of  two  cheeks,  connected  together  and  with 
a  stock  by  assembling  bolts.  The  front  part  supports  the 
piece,  and  rests  upon  an  axle-tree  furnished  with  wheels, 
the  rear  end  of  the  stock  or  trail  resting  on  the  ground. 

7.  What  are  the  cheeks  ? 

The  parts  of  the  carriage    between    which  the  r-iQA 
piece  is  placed,  and  upon  which  the  trunnions  are  ^ 
supported. 

8.  What  is  the  wheel  composed  of? 

d4 


116  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

or  a  nave  into  which  the  axle-tree  enters  ;  of  a  cer- 
tain number  of  spokes  fastened  in  the  nave  ;  and  a 
circumference  which  is  composed  of  a  number  of  fellies 
equal  to  half  the  number  of  spokes. 

9.  What  is  the  dish  of  a  wheel  ? 

The  inclination  outward  of  the  spokes  when  fastened 
in  the  nave. 

10.  What  is  the  advantage  of  this  obliquity  of  the 
spokes  ? 

It  gives  elasticity  to  the  wheel,  and  protects  it  from 
the  effects  of  shocks,  which  would  de^troy  it,  if  the 
spokes  were  in  the  same  plane. 

11.  What  is  the  object  of  giving;  dish  to  a  wheel  ? 
For  the  purpose  of  making  the  body  of  the  carriage 

wider  ;  to  diminish  the  length  of  the  axle-tree,  thus  in- 
creasing its  strength  ;  to  throw  the  mud  and  water  out- 
side the  wheels;  and  to  keep  the  wheel  close  against 
the  carriage,  and  prevent  any  tendency  to  run  off  the 
axle. 

12.  How  are  movable  gun-carriages  distinguished.? 
As  field,  mountain  and  siege-carriages. 

13.  What  are  the  principal  considerations  to  be  kept 
in  view  in  the  construction  of  movable  carriages  ? 

Tn  firing,  the  carriage  should  yield  to  the  recoil. — 
Were  it  fixed  immovably,  it  would  soon  be  destro^^ed, 
no  matter  how  great  its  solidity.  Its  weight  should  be 
proportional  to  that  of  the  piece.  If  too  heavy  it  would 
^^^/r-i  soon  be  destroyed  by  the  shocks  of  the  piece.     If 

*  ^  too  light,  the  recoil  would  be  immoderate.  Its 
weight  should  always  be  less  than  that  of  the  piece.  A 
heavy  piece  upon  too  light  a  carriage  will  perform  bet- 
ter service  than  the  reverse  arrangement,  since  the 
effort  exerted  by  a  piece  depends  upon  its  mass  multi- 
plied into  the  square  of  the  velocity. 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  117 

14.  What  are  the  principal  considerations  to  be  kept 
in  view  in  the  construction  of  field-carriages  ? 

Lightness  and  strength  combined,  great  mobility  and 
flexibility,  and  a  low  centre  of  gravity,  in  order  to  sur- 
mount all  difficulties  in  the  field  which  must  frequently 
arise  while  artillery  is  acting  with  other  troops — to  resist 
the  concussion  in  firing,  and  the  severe  jolting  produced 
when  moving  rapidly  over  uneven  ground. 

15.  How  many  kinds  of  field-gun  carriages  have  we? 

Three,  viz  :  One  for  the  6-pdr.  gun  and  r2-pdr-  howit- 
zer; another  for  the  24-pdr.  howitzer;  and  the  third  for 
the  12-pdr.  gun  and  32-pdr.  howitzer. 

16".  In  what  respect  are  these  carriages  similar  ^ 
In  all  having  the  same  kind  of  limber  and  the  same 
sized  wheels,  so  that  any  limber  or  wheel  may  be  used 
"with  any  carriage ;  though,  if  possible,  the  heaviest 
wheel  (No.  2)  should  be  used  on  the  carriage  of  the 
three  heaviest  pieces,  12-pdr.  gun  and  24  and  32-pdr. 
howitzers. 

17.  Describe  these  gun-carriages. 

They  consist' of  two  short  cheeks  of  wood,  bolted 
upon  a  stock  and  wooden  axle-body,  in  a  recess  of 
which  fits  the  iron  axle  on  which  the  wheels  are  placed. 
The  stock  terminates  in  a  trail  and  trail-plate  which 
rests  on  the  ground,  and  has"  on  the  end  a  strong  ring 
19fi1  ^^^^^^  ^^^  lunette,  which  is  placed  on  the  pintle- 
-'  hook  when  the  piece  is  limbered.  In  the  stock  is 
placed  an  elevating  screw-box  of  bronze  in  which  the 
elevating  screw  fits. 

18.  Mention  other  parts  of  a  field-carriage. 
Cap-squares,  ear-plates,  trunnion-plates,  under-strap, 

elevating-screw,  wheel-guard  plate,  axle-tree,  trail- 
plate,  trail-handles,  prolong-hooks,  pointing-rings, 
washer-hooks,    lock-chain,     sponge-chain,   sponge    and 


118  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

rammer-stop,   bolts,    rings,  bands,    hooks,  keys,  straps, 
nuts,  and  nails. 

19.  What  is  the  limber? 

It  consists  of  a  .similar  axle-body,  axle,  and  two 
wheels,  and  on  these  rests  a  frame-work  to  receive  the 
tongue.  On  the  top  of  the  whole  is  an  ammunition 
box,  the  top  of  which  forms  a  seat  for  three  cannoneers. 
In  rear  of  the  axle-tree  is  2. phiile-hook  to  receive  the 
lunette  of  the  trail.  Connected  with  the  frame  work  in 
front,  is  a  fixed  splinter-bar  with  four  hooks,  to  which 
are  attached  the  traces  of  the  wheel-horses.  At  the 
extremity  of  the  tongue  are  placed  two  pole-chains,  by 
which  the  tonjj^ue  or  pole  is  held  up,  and  a  pole-yoke  with 
two  movable  branches,  to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible, 
the  pole  from  oscillating  and  striking  the  horses. 

20.  What  is  the  use  of  the  limber? 

To  facilitate  the  movements  of  the  carriage.  By 
means  of  it  a  considerable  portion  of  ammunition  and 
stores  may  be  conveyed  for  the  immediate  use  of  the 
piece,  some  of  the  cannoneers  may  be  seated  on  the 
boxes,  and  by  the  simple  manner  in  which  it  is  attach- 
ed to  the  carriage,  the  greatest  facility  is  afforded  for 
coming:  into  action,  or  in  retirins:. 

21.  Are  there   any  other  advantages   from  the  r^nn 
manner  in  whidi  the  gun-carriage  and  limber  are  L 
connected  ? 

These  two  parts  thus  possess  all  the  advantages  of  a 
four-wheel  carriage,  and  the  freedom  of  motion  peculiar 
to  each  admits  of  their  passing  over  ground  uninjured, 
or  without  being  overturned  or  strained,  where  any 
other  four-wheel  carriage  would  invariably  fail. 

22.  Describe  the  mountain  artillery  gun-carriage. 

It  is  formed  like  the  field-gun!  carriage,  but  much 
smaller,  the  cheeks  not  being  formed  of  pieces  distinct 
from  the  stock,  but  all  three  made  of  two  pieces  bolted 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  119 

together,  The  axle-tree  is  of  wood,  which  lessens  the 
recoil,  and  gives  an  elasticity  to  the  whole  carriage, 
better  adapted  to  resist  the  shocks  of  firing.  The  wheels 
are  but  thirty-eight  inches  high.  Ordinarily,  over  rough 
ground,  the  carriage  is  transported  on  the  backs  of 
mules  ;  but  where  it  is  possible,  a  pair  of  shafts  is  at- 
tached to  the  trail  to  keep  it  from  the  ground,  and  the 
piece  is  drawn  on  its  carriage  by  harnessing  one  of  the 
pack  mules  to  it.  The  ammunition  is  carried  in  ammu- 
nition-boxes on  the  backs  of  nuiles. 

23.  Describe  Xhe prnirie- carriage. 

The  necessity  for  a  small  carriage  for  the  mountain- 
howitzer  when  used  on  our  western  piairies,  has  led  to 
the  adoption  of  a  special  carriage  for  that  service,  with 
a  limber  attached  as  in  a  field-carriage.  This  renders 
the  carriage  less  liable  to  overturn,  and  preferable  in 
every  respect  to  the  two-wheeled  one.  The  limber  is 
furnished  with  two  ammunition-boxes,  placed  over 
:he  axle-tree,  and  parellel  to  it,  and  just  wide 
enough  for  one  row  of  shells  and  their  catridges. 

24.  How  many  kinds  o^  siege- gun  carriages  arc  used 
in  our  service  ? 

Three  ;  one  for  the  12-pound  gun  ;  another  for  the 
18-pdr.  ;  and  the  third  for  the  24-pound  gun  and  8-in. 
howitzer. 

25.  In  what  respect  are  they  similar? 

They  are  all  constructed  in  the  same  manner,  differ- 
ing only  in  their  dimensions.  AH  the  limbers  and  wheels 
are  the  same,  so  that  they  can  be  used  in  common. 

26.  Describe  this  o:un-carriafre. 

It  is  similar  in  its  construction  to  the  field-carriage, 
but  is  joined  to  the  limber  in  a  different  way.  Project- 
ing upwards  from  the  limber  and  in  rear  of  the  axle- 
tree,  is  placed  a  pintle,  which  enters  a  hole  made  in  the 
trail  from  the  underside,  and    a  lashing-chain  and  hook 


128] ;; 


120  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

keep  the  two  parts  together  when  once  in  position. 
The  weight  of  the  trail  resting  on  the  rear  end  of  the 
tongue  keeps  this  nearly  horizontal,  and  relieves  the 
horses  of  the  w'eight  of  it,  which,  as  it  must  be  both 
long  and  heavy,  is  too  much  for  the  horses  to  carry. 
•  The  splinter-bar  is,  as  in  field-carriages,  stationary, 
but  the  traces  of  the  next  team  are  attached  to  a  mova- 
ble bar  which  is  connected  with  the  end  of  the  tongue. 
The  tongue  is  furnished  WMlh  pole-chains,  but  no  yoke, 
and  the  rest  of  the  teams  are  harnessed  as  in  field- 
artiller3^  The  axle-trees  are  of  iron,  with  axle-bodies 
of  wood  ;  which  last,  by  its  elasticity,  renders  the  shock 
from  the  piece  less  direct  and  violent. 
lOQ]  ^^  ^^^  upper  surface  of  the  cheeks,  near  the 
'  -'  rear  ends,  are  placed  two  projecting  bolts  which, 
with  the  curve  of  the  cheeks,  form  resting  places  for 
the  trunnions,  when  the  piece  is  in  position  for  trans- 
portation. They  are  called  travelling  trunnion-beds. — 
When  the  piece  is  in  this  position,  its  breech  rests  upon 
the  bolster,  which  is  a  curved  block  of  wood,  bolted  to 
the  upper  side  of  the  stock.  On  each  side  of  the  trail, 
and  perpendicular  to  it,  a  strong  mancp.uvring  bolt  is 
placed  to  serve  as  places  to  apply  the  hand-spikes  in 
manoeuvring  the  carriage, 

27.  What  is  the  object  of  the  traveling  trunnion-beds? 
For  the  purpose  of  distributing  the  load  more  equally 

over  the  carriage. 

28.  Mention  the  parts  composing  the  limber. 

The  fork,  the  splinter-bar,  the  hounds,  the  sweep-bar, 
the  tongue,  the  pintle,  the  lashing-chain,  the  axle-tree 
(iron).  The  sweep-bar  is  of  iron,  and  on  it  rests  the 
trail,  which  by  its  weight  keeps  up  the  tongue. 

29.  Why  is  it  unnecessary  for  siege-carriages  to 
have  the  same  degree  of  mobility  and  flexibility  as  field- 
carriages  ? 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  121 

Because  siege-carriages  are,  properly  speaking,  trans- 
portation wagons  for  use  on  roads,  and  never  intended 
for  manoeuvring  with  troops. 

30.  How  many  horses  does  the  transportation  of 
siege-guns  require  ? 

.  A  24-pdr.  requires  ten  horses  (five  drivers)  ;  a  12  or 
18-pdr.,  eight  horses  (four  drivers.) 

31.  What  are  stationary  gun-carriages  used  for? 

To  fire  the  piece  from,  and  not  to  transport  it  except 
for  short  distances. 

32.  For  what  service  are  these  carriages  used  ?  |--„^ 
For  garrison  and  sea-coast  pieces  ;   although  the  L 

siege  gun-carriages  just  described  may  also  be  used  in 
a  fortification  or  garrison.  Mortar-beds,  to  be  described 
hereafter,  are  used  either  for  siege  or  garrison  service. 

33.  What  are  the  chief  requisites  for  garrison  and 
sea-coast  carriages  ? 

Strength,  durability,  and  facility  in  serving  the  guns, 
as  they  are  intended  only  for  the  works  of  a  place, 
coast-batteries,  and  situations  where  they  are  perma- 
nently fixed. 

34.  Why  should  these  carriages  be  required  to  pos- 
sess great  strength  and  durability  ? 

Unless  made  strong  they  would  soon  be  shaken  by 
the  continued  and  rapid  fire  which  the  defence  of  a 
work  may  demand  ;  and  from  their  constant  exposure 
to  the  weather  they  would  soon  decay  if  made  of  a 
very  perishable  material. 

35.  Is  the  weight  of  garrison  carriages  a  matter  of 
great  importance  ? 

It  is  of  less  importance  in  this  class  of  carriages  than 
in  any  other,  as  they  are  seldom  removed  from  their 
situations  ;  their  weight  adds  but  little  to  the  labor  of 
running  them  up. 

36.  Mention  the  different  stuiionary  carriages. 


122  HAND-BOOK    OF    AFxTILLERY. 

The  carriage  from  which  a  mortar  is  fired,  called  its 
bed;  the  barbettee-carriage  ;  the  coluinbiad-carriage ; 
the  casemate-carriage ;  and  that  for  the  24-pdr.  iron 
howitzer,  called  the  flank  casemate-carriage. 

37.  How  many  kinds  of  siege-morfar  beds  have 
.we  ? 

Four;   the  8-in.,   10-in.,   the  stone,  the  cochorn. 
jgj.     38.   Which  of  these  are  alike  ? 

J  The  first  three,  differing  only  in  dimensions. 
Tliey  are  made  of  cast  iron,  which  has  verj'  little  elas-' 
ticity. 

39.  Describe  these  beds. 

They  consist  of  two  cheeks,  joined  by  two  transoms, 
all  cast  together  in  the  same  piece.  The  manoeuvring 
bolts,  placed  on  each  side,  one  near  each  end  of  the 
cheeks,  are  made  of  wrought  iron,  and  set  in  the  mould 
when  the  bed  is  cast. 

On  the  front  transom  is  fastened  a  wooden  bolster, 
grooved  to  receive  the  elevating  quoin.  Notches,  on 
the  underside  of  the  front  and  rear  of  the  cheeks,  give 
hold  to  the  hand -spikes  in  throwing  the  carriage  to  the 
righ-t  or  left. 

40.  Describe  the  coehorn  mortar-bed. 

It  is  made  of  a  block  of  oak  wood,  in  one  piece,  or 
two  pieces  joined  together  with  bolts.  A  recess,  for 
the  trun!iions  and  part  of  the  breech  Is  made  in  the 
top  of. the  bed;  and  the  trunnions  are  kept  in  their 
places  by  plates  of  iron  bolted  down  over  thein.  Two 
iron  handles  are  bolted  to  the  bed  on  each  side,  by  which 
four  men  can  carry  the  bed  with  the  mortar  in  its 
place. 

41.  Describe  the  eprouvette  mortar-bed 

It  consists  of  a  block  of  wood,  on  the  top  of  which  is 
countersunk  and  bolted  the  bed-plnte,  which  is  a  heavy 
circular  plate  of  cast  iron  having  a  rectangular   recess 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  123 

with  sloping  sides,  so  as  to  make  it  longest  at  the  bot- 
toni.  Into  this  recess  the  sole  of  the  nnortar  slides.  The 
wooden  block  is  bolted  to  a  stone  block  of  the  same  size, 
which  is  firmly  placed  in  the  ground  on  a  masonry  foun- 
dation. 

42.  Describe  the  heavy  sea-coast  mortar-bed.- 

|oo-|  The  bed  for  the  heavy  ten-inch  mortar  is  the 
'^-'only  one  which  has  yet  been  adopted.  The  cheeks 
are  of  cast  iron,  and  somewhat  similar  in  form  to  those 
in  the  beds  of  siege-mortars  ;  but  in  the  front  the  cheeks 
turn  up  to  receive  between  them  the  front  transom, 
which  has  countersunk  in  and  bolted  to  it,  an  elevating 
screw-bed,  through  which  works  an  inclined  elevating 
screw,  which  rises  or  fa!ls  by  turning  the  nut  fitted  on 
it  by  means  of  a  lever  inserted  into  mortises  cut  in  the 
direction  of  the  radii  of  the  circular  nut. 

Both  the  transoms  are  made  of  wood,  connected  with 
the  cheeks  by  mortises  and  tenons,  and  secured  by  bolts 
running  through,  and  nuts  on  the  outside.  One  of 
these  bolts  at  each  end  is  longer  than  the  others,  and 
the  projecting  ends  are  made  use  of  as  manoeuvring 
bolts.  Directly  behind  and  underneath  the  position  for 
the  trunnions,  a  bronze  bed-piece  is  placed  to  receive 
the  shock  of  the  piece.  It  consists  of  a  large  beam  of 
bronze,  with  each  end  well  let  in  to  the  face  of  the 
cheek.  The  use  of  the  elevating  screw  instead  of  the 
quoin  is  rendered  necessary  by -the  great  mass  of 
metal  to  be  raised  or  lowered  in  sighting  the  piece. 

43.  What  is  a  barbeite  carriage  .'' 

It  is  a  carriage  belonging  to  the  class  denominated 
immovable,  on  which  a  gun  is  mounted  to  fire  over  a 
paiapet ;  and  a  barbette  gun  is  any  gun  mounted  on  a 
barbette  carriage. 

44.  How  many  forms  of  the  barbette-carriage  are  in 
use  in  the  service  ? 


r 


3  24  HAND-BOOK    OF   ARTILLERY. 

Two  ,  one  for  iron  guns  and  sea-coast  howitzers,  (12, 
18,  24.  32,  42-pdrs.,  and  8  and  lOin.;)  and  one  for  the 
columbiads. 

45.  Of  how  many  parts  aie  barbette-carriages^^ qo 
composed  ?  I- 

Of  a  gun-carriage  and  a  chassis 

46.  Describe  the  gun-carriage. 

It  is  formed  of  two  upright  pieces  of  timber,  nearly 
vertical,  behind  which  arc  placed  two  inclined  braces, 
mortised  into  the  uprights,  and  designed  to  receive  the 
force  of  the  recoil,  the  whole  forming  the  cheeks,  which 
are  firmly  connected  and  braced  by  transoms  and  as- 
sembling bolts,  thus  forming  a  iriangular  framework, 
which  is  less  liable  than  any  other  form  to  become  de- 
formed from  the  shocks  of  the  gun.  A  horizontal  piece 
(the  transom  and  axle-tie)  runs  from  front  to  rear  be- 
tw^een  the  cheeks,  connecting  the  axle-body  and  rear 
transom.  The  trunnion-bed  is  at  the  top  of  the  upright, 
where  it  is  joined  to  the  brace;  and  the  breech  of  the 
gun  is  supported  on  an  elevating-screw,  working  into 
a  screw-box  placed  in  the  rear  end  of  the  transom  and 
axle-tie.  The  front  transom  is  just  under  the  gun  :  the 
middle  transom  is  between  the  braces,  and  the  rear 
transom  is  at  the  lower  end- of  the  braces,  and  under 
the  transom  and  axle-tie,  into  which  it  is  notched  ;  the 
lower  part  of  this  -transom  is  notched  to  receive  the 
tongue  of  the  chasis  on  which  it  slides.  Between  this 
transom  and  the  transom  and  axle-tie,  the  end  of  a 
lunette  is  placed  projecting  to  the  rear,  and  fastened  by 
a  bolt  for  the  purpose  of  attaching  a  limber  to  the  car- 
riage. 

The  feet  of  the  uprights  and  front  end  of  the  tran- 
som and  axle-tie  are  joined  to  an  axle-body,  in  W'hich 
an  iron  axle  is  placed.     On  the  ends  of  the  axle  are  fit- 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  125 

ted  cast-iron  rollers,  which  rest  on  the  rails  of  the ^^  04^ 
chasis,  and  support  the  front  of  the  carriage.  On^ 
the  outside  of  the  roller  is  placed  an  octagonal  projec- 
tion, on  which  the  cast-iron  nave  of  the  wheel  fits,  se- 
cured by  a  washer  and  linch-pin.  The  spokes  of  the 
wheels  are  wood,  inclosed  within  heavy  iron  ties.  Ma- 
noeuvring bolts  are  inserted  in  front  of  the  feet  of  the 
upiights,  and  in  the  carriages,  for  pieces  heavier  than 
a  24-pdr.,  in  rear  of  these  feet  also.  These  bolts  and 
the  spokes  of  the  wheels  form  the  points  of  application 
for  the  hand-spikes  in  manoeuvring  the  piece.  Manoeu 
vring  staples  are  placed  in  front  of  the  feet  of  the 
braces,  for  the  puipose  of  using  hand-spikes  to  raise  the 
rear  of  the  carriao;e  from  the  tongue  of  the  chasis  in 
running  to  and  from  battery. 

47.  What  pieces  go  on  the  same  carriage  ? 

The    32-pound  gun   and   8-in.   howitzer.      All  other 
pieces  have  separate  carriages. 

48.  How  many  sizes  of  rollers  are  used  ? 

Two  ;  one   for  the   carriages   of  the    12,  18,  and  24- 
pdrs  ;  the  other  for  the  remaining  carriages. 

49.  Are  cap-squares  used  with  these  carriages? 
No. 

50.  What  other  purposes  do  the  wheels  subserve  be- 
sides assisting  in  manoeuvring  the  gun-carriage  ? 

In  transporting  the  piece  on  its  carriage  for  short  dis- 
tances, as  from  one  front  of  a  fort  to  another. 

51.  Describe  the  chasis. 

It  consists  of  two  rails  and  a  tongue,  joined  by  three 
.transom's.  The  tongue  is  in  the  middle,  and  projects 
considerably  deyond  the  rails  to  the  rear.  At  each  end 
of  the  rails  on  top,  a  hard  piece  of  wood  is  notched  in 
and  bolted.  They  are  called  hurters  and  counter-,-^ 05 
hurters,  and  their  use  is  to  prevent  the  gun-carriage^ 
from  running  off  the  chassis.     Rail  plates  of  iron  to  pro- 


12f)  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

tect   the  wooden  rails   are   let   in  to  the    outside  of  the 
rails.     At  the  rear  end  of  the  tongue  a   swinging   prop' 
i>  placed  to  su]>port  the   end  of  the   tongue   when   the 
piece   is  run  back.     The  lower  side   of  the  end  of  the 
tongue    is   notched  out,   and  a  manoeuvring   loop   fixed 
there,  with  a  bold  and  screws,  to  assist  in   handling  the 
chasis.     On   the  under  side  of  each    rail,  opposite   the 
rear  transom,  a  mortise  is  formed  for  the  reception  of  a 
socket  of  iron,  which  receives  the  handle  o{  the  traverse- , 
wheel  fork.     Each  of   these   forks    receives  a  traverse- 
wheel,  joined   to  it  by  an   axle-bolt,  and   these    support 
the  rear  end  of  the  chassis.     The  front  end  is  supported  , 
on  a   pintle-plate  of  iron  ;   through   which,  and    up  into  ' 
the  middle  of  the  front  transom,  passes  a  pintle  or  bolt,) 
which  serves  os  a  pivot  around  which  the  whole  S3'stem ' 
moves. 

52.  In  permanent  batteries,  how  are  the  pintle  and 
traverse  circle  fixed  ?  ' 

The  pintle  is  fixed  in  a  block  of  stone,  and  the  tra- 
verse circle  is  an  'won  plate  set  also  in  stone. 

53.  In  temporary  batteries,  how  is  the  pintle  attach- 
ed ? 

To  a  wooden  bolster  which  is  covered  by  a  circular 
cast-iron  plate,  and  attached  by  bolts  to  a  w^ooden  cross, 
picketed  firmly  into  the  ground. 

54.  How  may  a  temporary  traverse  circle  be  made  ? 
Of  plank,  pinned. to  sleepers,  and  fastened  to  pickets, 

or  secured  to  string-pieces,  which  connect  the  traverse 
circle  with  the  pintle-cross. 

55.  What  retains  the  traverse-wheel  and  their^^op 
forks  in  their  places  ?  L 

The  weight  of  the  carriage  and  gun,  and  the  form  of 
the  socket  and  handle  of  the  fork. 

5Q.  Where  are  the  hand-spikes  applied  to  traversing 
the  carriage  ? 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  12? 

To  the  pivot-bolts  of  the  traverse-wheels,  which  pro- 
ject to  the  rear;  or  under  the  traverse  wheels. 

57.  Why  does  the  chat^sis  slope  towards  the  front? 
In   order  to  diminish   the  recoil,  and  aid  in   running 

the  piece  into  battery. 

58.  Describe  the  columbind  gun-cdrriage. 

It  is  a  triangular  frame-work,  consisting  on  each  side 
of  an  upright,  a  horizontal  rail  or  tie,  and  a  brace,  firm- 
ly mortised  and  bolted  together,  forming  the  cheeks, 
which  are  joined  by  a  transom  at  each  end.  These  pro- 
ject below  the  lower  surfaces  of  the  ties,  and  fit  in 
between  the  rails  of  the  chassis,  serving,  like  the  flanges 
on  the  rollers  in  the  other  barbette-carriages,  to  prevent 
the  gun-carriage  from  slipping  sidewa3's  off  the  chassis. 

Through  the  front  transom,  and  near^the  front  ends 
of  the  ties,  an  iron  axle-tree  is  passed,  working  in  iron 
boxes  fitting  in  the  ties.  On  the  projecting  ends  of  this 
axle-tree  the  lollers  or  manoeuvring  wheels  are  fixed  (the 
axes  of  which  are  eccentric  with  the  axis  of  the  axle- 
tree)  the  extreme  ends  of  the  axle,  being  octagonal  in 
shape,  to  fit  the  wrench  of  the  iron  handspike. 

These  eccentrics  are  so  arranged  that  when  the  cen- 
tres of  the  wheels  are  at  their  lowest  points,  the  sur- 
faces of  the  wheels  bear  on  the  rails  of  the  chassis  and 
raise  the  gun-carriage  tie  from  it ;  and  when  the  cen- 
tres are  at  the  highest  points,  the  surfaces  of  the  wheels 
'-07-1  do  not  touch  the  rails,  and  the  ties  are  in  contact 
^  with  them.*  A  similar  arrangement  is  made  for 
the  rear  part  of  the  carriage,  except  that  the  axle  does 
not  extend  all  the  way  through,  but  the  wheel  on  each 

*  A  couple  of  notches  or  indentatiotis  are  made  on  the  ends  of 
the  eccentric  axles.  When  these  notcfies  are  in  a  vertical  line,  the 
wheels  rest  on  the  rails;  bnt  when  they  are  in  a  horizontal  or  in- 
clined line,  the  ties  rest  on  them. 


IZ^  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

side  has  a  projecting  piece   of  axle  which  works  into  a 
hox  placed  near  the  end  of  the  tie. 

The  wlieel  is  thrown  into  or  out  of  gear,  that  is, 
made  to  bear  on  the  rail  of  the  chassis  or  relieved  from 
it,  by  turning  the  axle  with  a  wrench  placed  on  the  oc- 
ta'j-onul  end.  In  the  direction  of  the  radii  of  the  wheels, 
*but  inclined  outwards,  mortises  are  placed  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  end  of  the  iron  handspikes,  by  acting  on 
which  while  inserted  the  wheels  are  turned,  and  the 
carriage  moved  back  and  forth  on  the  chassis.  Ordi- 
narily, when  the  wheels  are  thrown  into  gear,  the  car- 
ria<xe  being  back,  it  will  run  into  battery  of  itself. 

The  elevating  arrangement  consist  of  an  elevaling- 
screw,  working  into  a  screw-bed,  which  slides  in  a  ver- 
tical box,  and  carries  on  the  top  of  it  a  movable /^aw;/  to 
fit  into  the  notches  cut  in  the  breech  of  the  gun,  in  order 
to  give  considerable  elevations.  For  the  purpose  of 
transferring  the  pawl  fiom  one  notch  to  the  next,  it  has 
a  slit  in  it,  through  which  the  elevating  bar  is  passed, 
and  the  gun  supported  by  making  use  of  the  edge  of 
the  elevating-box  as  a  fulcrum.  This  arrangement  is 
over  the  rear  transom. 

59.  Describe  the  chassis  of  the   columbiad   carriage. 

It  consists,  like  those  used  with  other  barbette  r-ioo 
carriages,  of  two  rails  connected  by  three  tran-' 
soms ;  but  the  tops  of  the  rails  are  shod  with  iron 
plates,  and  the  rear  hurters  are  the  large  heads  of  he^vy 
bolts  which  pass  entirely  through  the  rails.  The  front 
hurters  are  fixed  to  the  front  transom  by  a  heavy  plate 
and  bolt. 

Traverse-wheels  are  placed  under  both  front  and  rear 
transoms,  and  the  chassis  moves  on  a  pintle  passing 
through  the  middle  transom.  Two  of  these  wheels  are 
placed  under  each  end  of  the  chassis,  their  axes  being 
kept  in  place  by  straps  bolted  to  the  transoms.  Recesses 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  129 

are  cut  in  the  uuder-side  of  the  transom,  for  the  wheel-s 
to  turn  in.     This  chassis  has  no  tongue. 

60.  Of  how  many  parts  are  casemate  carriages  com- 
posed ^ 

Like  barbette-carriages,  of  ^gun-carriage  and  cAa^sw. 

61.  Describe  the  gun-carriage. 

It  consists  of  two  cheeks,  joined  together  by  as  many 
transoms,  and  supported  in  front  by  an  axle-tree  on 
truck  wheels,  and  in  rear  on  the  rear  transom,  which  is 
notched  to  fit  the  tongue  of  the  chassis.  Each  cheek 
is  formed  of  two  pieces,  one  on  top  of  the  other,  and 
connected  by  dowels  and  bolts.  On  the  underside,  near 
the  front,  a  notch  is  cut  for  the  reception  of  the  axle- 
tree,  which  is  of  oak  .  and  nearly  over  the  axle,  on  the 
upper  side  of  the  cheek,  the  trunnion-bed  is  placed. — 
The  rear  of  the  upper  piece  of  the  cheek  is  cut  into 
steps,  which  give  a  better  hold  for  the  assembling-bolts, 
than  a  uniform  slope,  and  give  purchases  for  the  hand- 
spikes, in  elevating  the  piece.  On  the  inside  ^^  r-io^x 
each  cheek,  just  in  rear  of  the  axle,  a  verticals- 
guide  is  fixed  to  keep  the  carriage  on  the  chassis.  It  is' 
of  wood,  and  bolted  to  the  front  transom  and  axle-tree. 
The  top  of  the  front  transom  is  hollowed  out,  to  admit 
the  depression  of  the  piece.  Behind  the  rear  transom, 
and  at  the  notch  cut  in  it,  there  is  an  eccentric  roller, 
so  arranged  as  to  bear  the  weight  of  the  rear  part  of  the 
carriage,  or  not,  according  as  it  is  thrown  in  or  out  of 
gear. 

Near  the  rear  end  of  each  cheek,  and  outside,  a  heavy 
trail-handle  of  iron  is  placed,  and  used  in  manoeuvring 
the  piece.  On  the  ends  of  the  axle  truck-wheels  are 
placed,  with  mortises  sloping  outwards  in  the  direction 
of  the  radii,  for  the  insertion  of  the  handspikes  in  run- 
ring  from  battery. 

The  elevating  apparatus  consists  of  a  cast-iron  bed- 


130  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

plate,  secured  to  the  rear  transom;  an  elevating-screw 
and  brass  nut;  the  nut  being  acted  on  by  an  oblique- 
toothed  wheel,  turned  by  a  handle  placed  out.side  the 
right  cheek. 

6*2.  Describe  the  chassis.  ' 

It  consi.>^ts  of  two  rails  and  a  tongue,  joined  b}-  two 
transoms,  and  supported  on  traverse-wheels  in  front  and 
rear.  The  track  on  each  rail  is  curved  up  at  each  end, 
and  provided  with  hurters  to  prevent  the  carriage  from 
running  off*  the  chassis.  A  prop  fastened  under  the 
rear  end  of  the  tongue  prevents  the  chassis  from  upset- 
ting backwards  in  firing.heavy  charges,  and  may  be 
used  as  a  point  of  support  in  raising  the  chassis.  An 
iron  fork  is  bolted  to  the  under  side  of  the  front  end  of 
the  tongue,  to  which  is  bolted  an  iron  tongue.  An 
opening  in  the  masoni'y  below  the  embrasure,  is  left  for 
-  .«-]  this  tongue,  and  it  is  secured  in  its  place  by 
-•  dropping  the  pintle  from  the  embrasure  down 
through  the  eye  of  the  tongue. 

63.  Where  is  iho  flank  casemate  carriage  employed .? 
It  is  especially  adapted  to  the  mounting  of  the  24-pdr. 

iron  howitzer  in  the  flanks  of  casemate  batteries,  for 
defending  the  ditch  ;  and  both  the  gun-carriage  and 
chassis  are  nanower  and  lighter  than  the  other  case- 
mate carriages. 

64.  Describe  the  gun-carriage. 

The  cheeks  are  made  of  white  oak,  and  connected  by 
two  iron  tiansoms,  the  front  one  projecting  below  the 
cheeks,  and  resting  on  the  chassis  with  a  projection  on 
the  bottom  of  it,  fitting  in  between  the  rails.  The  bot- 
tom of  the  tiail  has  the  same  slope  as  the  upper  surface 
of  the  chas.-:is  on  wh.ich  it  rests;  so  that  when  its  ec- 
centric-roller is  out  of  gear  ,the  rear  parts  of  the  cheeks 
fit  the  rails.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  bottom  of 
the  cheek  makes  an  angle   with  the  rail,   and   has   in 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  131 

front  a  fork,  and  a  roller  which  runs  on  the  rail  of  the 
chassis  when  the  eccentric  is  in  gear.  Each  cheek  has 
on  the  side  a  tr^iil-handle  and  a  manoeuvring  ling. — 
In  rear  of  the  rear  transom  is  placed  an  eccentric-roller, 
having  a  projection  in  tiie  middle  of  it,  just  large 
enough  to  fit  in  between  the  rails  of  the  chassis,  and 
guide  the  trail  of  the  carriage.  When  this  roUei'  is  in 
gear,  the  weight  of  the  trail  rests  upon  it,  while  that  of 
the  front  part  of  the  carriage  is  thrown  upon  the  front 
rollers,  and  the  piece  is  then  easily  run'^in  and  out  of 
battery;  but  the  roller  being  out  of  gear,  as  when  the 
piece  is  about  to  be  fired,  the  weight  rests  upon  the  rear 
part  of  the  cheeks  and  the  h'oni  transom,  and  friction  is 
brought  into  play  to  diminish  the  recoil.  Cap-  p^  .^ 
squar.es  are  used  with  this  carriage.  L 

65.  Describe  the  chassis. 

It  consists  simply  of  two  rails  3  in.  apart,  and  joined 
by  four  transoms  and  assembling-bolts.  Hurters  on  the 
rear  ends  of  the  rails  only  are  used,  as  the  bottom  pro- 
jection of  the  front  transom  prevents  the  carriage  run- 
ning too  far  into  battery,  The  front  end  of  the  chassis 
rests  on  the  sole  of  the  embrasure.  The  end  is  piovided 
with  a  pintle-plate  and  a  strap  of  half-in.  iron  through 
which  the  pintle  passes  to  the  masonry  beneath.  The 
rear  of  the  chassis  is  supported  by  an  iron  prop  the 
lower  end  of  which  is  attached  to  two  traverse-wheels. 

QQ.  What  kind  of  carriages  have  been  recommended 
for  use  in  garrisons,  instead  of  wooden  ones  ? 

Wrought-iron  carriages,  for  ail  except  the  flank  case- 
mate ;  all  made  in  a  similar  manner,  differing  otily  in 
weight  and  dimensions. 

67.  What  is  the  objection  to  cast  iron  ? 

Its  weight,  and  its  great  liability  to  splinter  when 
struck  by  shot. 


lo2  HAXD-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

6S.  or  how  many  parts  is  this  wrought-iroii  carriDge 
composed  ? 

Like  the  wooden  ones,  of  a  gun-carriage  and  chassis. 

69.  Describe  the  gun-carriage. 

It  consists  of  two  cheeks  of  thick  sheet-iron,  each 
one  of  which  is  strengthened  by  three  flanged  iron- 
plates  bolted  to  the  cheeks.  Along  the  bottom  of  each 
cheek,  an  iron  shoe  is  fixed  with  the  end  bent  upwards. 
..  io-j  1"  front  this  bent  end  is  bolted  to  the  flange  of 
-^the  front  strengthening  plate.  In  rear  the  bent  por- 
tion is  longer,  and  terminated  at  top  by  another  bend, 
which  serves  as  a  point  of  application  for  a  lever  on  a 
■wheel,  when  running  to  and  from  battery.  The  trun- 
nion-plates fit  over  the  top  ends  of  the  strengthening- 
plates,  which  meet  around  the  bed,  and  are  fast- 
ened to  the  flanges  of  the  latter  by  movable  bolts  and 
nuts. 

The  cheeks  are  joined  together  by  transoms  made  of 
bar  iron.  They  are  parallel  to  each  other,  and  in  order 
that  the  base-ring  on  the  gun  may  not  interfeie  with  giv-  ' 
ing  it  the  full  elevation  by  striking  against  them,  it  is  pro- 
posed to  dispense  with  the  base-ring  in  sea-coast  and 
garrison  pieces,  and  to  retain  the  preponderance  by  re- 
ducing the  swell  of  the  muzzle. 

The  front  of  the  carriage  is  mounted  on  an  axle-tree, 
with  truck  wheels  similar  to  the  wooden  casemate  car- 


70.  Describe  the  chassis. 

It  consists  of  two  rails  of  wrought  iron,  the  cross  sec- 
tion of  each  being  in  form  of  a  T,  the  flat  surface  on 
top  being  for  the  reception  of  the  shoe-rail  of  the  gun- 
carriage.  The  rails  are  parallel  to  each  other,  and  con- 
nected by  iron  transoms  and  braces.  The  chassis  is 
supported  on  traverse  wheels. 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  133 

A  prop   is  placed   under  the   middle  transom   of  the 
chassis  to  provide  against  sagging. 

71.  What  carriage  is   used  for  conveying  ammunition 
for  a  field  battery  ? 

The  Caisson. 

72.  Describe  it. 

A  four-wheel  carriage,  consisting  of  two  parts,  one  of 
which  is  a  limber  similar  to  that  of  the  gun-carriage, 
^j^q-iand  connected  in  a  similar  way  by  a  wooden  stock 
-"and  lunette. 

On  the  axle-body  of  the  rear  part,  ^d  parallel  to  the 
stock,  are  placed  three  rails,  upon  which  are  fastened 
two  ammunition  boxes,  one  behind  the  other,  and  simi- 
lar to  the  one  on  the  limber,  so  that  the  caisson  has 
three  ammunition  boxes  which  will  seat  nine  cannon- 
eers. The  interior  compartments  of  the  ammunition 
boxes  vary  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ammunition 
with  which  they  are  loaded.  In  rear  of  the  last  box  is 
placed  a  spare  wheel,  axle  of  iron,  with  a  chain  and 
toggle  at  the  end  of  it.  On  the  rear  end  of  the  middle 
rail  is  placed  a  carriage  hook,  similar  to  a  pintle  hook, 
to  which  the  lunette  of  a  gun  carriage,  who?e  limber  has 
become  disabled,  may  be  attached,  and  the  gun  carried 
off  the  field. 

The  caisson  has  the  same  turning  capacity  and  mobil- 
ity as  the  gun  carriage,  so  that  it  can  follow  the  piece  in 
all  its  manoeuvres,  if  necessary.  It  also  carries  a  spare 
wheel,  spare  pole,  &,c. 

73.  What  provision  is  made  for  repairing  the  carriages 
of  a  field  battery  when  required  : 

Every  field  battery  is  provided  with  a  Forge. 

74.  Describe  this  wagon. 

It  consists,  besides  the  limber,  of  a  frame  work  on 
which  is  fixed  the  bellows,  fire-place,  &c.  Behind  the 
bellows  is  placed  a  coal-box,  which  has  to  be  removed 


134  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

before  the  bellows  can  be  put  in  position.  In  the  limber 
box  are  placed  the  smiths'  tools,  horse-shoes,  nails,  and 
spare  parts  (iron)  of  carriages,  harness,  ^*c. 

75.  Describe  the  battery  wagon. 

It  consists,  besides  the  limber,  of  a  long-bodied  cart 
with  a  lound  top,  which  is  connected  with  the  limber 
in  the  same  way  as  all  other  field  carriages.  The  lid 
-  .  .nopenson  hinges  placed  at  the  side  ;  and  in  rear  is 
-^fixed  a  movable  forage  rack  for  carrying  long  for- 
age. One  of  these  wagons  accompanies  each  field  bat- 
tery, for  the  purpose  of  transporting  carriage-makers', 
and  saddlers'  tools,  spare  parts  of  carriages,  harness,  and 
equipments,  and  rough  materials  for  replacing  different 
parts. 

Both  this  and  the  forge  are  made  of  equal  mobility 
with  the  other  field  carriages,  in  order  to  accompany 
them  wherever  they  may  be  required  to  go. 

76.  How  many  kinds  of  wheels  are  employed  for  field 
carriages  ? 

Two:  No.  1  for  the  6-pdr.  gun  carriage,  the  caisson, 
the  forge,  the  battery-Wi^gon,  and  for  the  limbers  of  all 
field  carriages.  No.  2  for  the  24-pdr.  howitzer  and  the 
12-pdr.  gun  carriages. 

77.  In  what  respects  are  these  wheels  similar.? 
They  are    of  the   same    form   and   height,  and   they 

fit  on  tfie  same  axle-tree  arm.  The  height  is  57  in- 
ches, and  each  wheel  is  composed  of  14  spokes  and  7 
fellies. 

78.  How  do  theydifl'er? 

In  the  dimensions  of  their  parts,  and  in  strength  and 
weight. 

79    What  is  the  weight  of  these  wheels.^ 

No.  1,  180  lbs.;  No  2,  196  lbs. 

80.  What  are  the  weight  and  height  of  a  wheel  of 
sie^e  jjun-carriasres  and  limbers  ? 


ARTILLERY  CARRIAGES  AND  MACHINES.  135 

Weight  404  lbs.,  and  height  60  inches. 

81.   What  is  the  portable  forge  designed  for? 

Service   in  a  mountainous    country,    where    wheeled 
vehicles   cannot  travel,  lor  the  purpose  of  making  re- 
pairs, not  only  for  the  artillery,  but  for  all  other  arms  of 
service  taken  on  tfuch  expeditions. 
^.;^-i     82.   What  is  the  77io/-/ar  w;rt^o?i  designed  for  ? 

-'     The  transportation  of  siege  mortars  and  their  beds 
or  of  guns  or  large  shot  and  shells. 

83.  Describe  this  wagon. 

The  limber  and  wheels  are  the  same  as  those  of  the 
siege  gun-casriage.  The  body  consists  of  a  platform  of 
rails  and  transoms,  resting  on  an  axle-tree,  the  two  mid- 
dle rails  being  prolonged  to  form  the  stock  ;  six  stakes 
or  standards  are  inserted  in  sockets  on  the  side  of  this 
platform  and  used  to  secure  the  load 

The  side-rails  are  prolonged  to  the  rear,  and  furnish 
pivots  for  a  roller  placed  immediately  in  rear  of  the  plat- 
form. This  roller  has  holes  for  the  insertion  of  hand- 
spikes, and  is  u^ed  in  loading  the  wagon;  the' guns, 
mortars,  &c.,  being  drawn  up  on  the  stock. 

A  muzzle  bolster  on  the  stock  near  the  limber,  and  a 
breech-hurter  near  the  hind  part  of  the  wagon,  are 
provided  and  used  when  long  ordnance  is  transported 
on  it. 

Mortars  are  usually  carried  mounted  on  their  beds. 

84.  What  is  the  use  of  the  hand-cart  ? 

For  the  transportation  of  light  stores  in  siege  and  gar- 
rison service. 

^5.  Describe  it. 

It  consists  of  a  light  body  with  shafts,  mounted  on 
two  wheels.  The  shafts  are  joined  together  at  the  ends, 
and  supported  immediately  in  front  of  the  body  by  iron 
legs. 

86.  What  is  the  use  of  the  hand  sling-cart  ? 


136  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

^  .rji     It  is  used  in  siege  and  garrison  service  for  trans- 
-•porting  artillery  short  distances. 

87.  Describe  it.  ' 

It  is  a  two-wheeled  carriage  made  entirely  of  iron, 
except  the  pole,  which  is  of  oak.  The  axle-tree  is 
arched  to  make  it  stronger,  and  connected  with  the  pole 
by  strong  wrought  iron  straps  and  braces.  In  the  rear 
of  the  axle  a  projection  is  welded  to  receive  the  end  of 
a  strong  hook.  The  end  of  the  pole  terminates  in  a 
ferrule  and  an  eye.  The  eye  is  for  the  purpose  of 
attaching  to  the  cart  when  necessary,  a  limber  or  a 
horse. 

88.  How  great  weights  can  be  transported  by  this 
cart  ? 

It  should  not  be  used  with  heavier  weights  than  about 
4,000  lbs.,  but  in  case  of  necessity  a  24  or  32-pdr.  gun 
may  be  transported  on  it.  For  heavier  guns  or  mate- 
rial the  large  sling-cart  drawn  by  horses  or  oxen  should 
be  us^d.  ^ 

89.  What  is  the  field  and  siege  gin,  and  its  use  ? 

It  consists,  like  all  gins,  of  two  legs  and  a  pry-pole, 
a  windlass,  sheaves,  pulleys,  and  a  fall  or  rope,  and  is 
used  for  mounting  or  handling  guns,  or  other  heavy 
bodies,  in  the  field  or  in  the  trenches  of  a  siege.  The 
legs  are  about  14^  feet  long  and  the  height  of  the  gin 
about  12  feet. 

90.  How  does  the  garrison  gin  differ  from  the  field 
and  sieo:e  gin  } 

It  is  heavier  and  stronger,  as  it  is  used  for  mounting 
heavier  guns,  and  has  not  to  be  transported  like  the 
other  with  an  army  in  the  field.  The  legs  are  longer 
and  the  gin  higher  than  the  other. 

91.  Describe  the  casemate  gin. 

It  does  not  differ  from  the  garrison  gin  except  in  its 
height  (which  is  about  that  of  the  field  and  siege  gin) 
and  the  thickness  and  strength  of  the  parts. 


,147] 


PRACTICAL   GUNNERY.  ^        137 

PART   XIII. 


PRACTICAL  GUNNERY. 

1.  How  may  the  velocity  of  a  shot  or  shell  be  ascer- 
tained ? 

Approximately  by  the  empirical  formula. 

\ac 
F=1600V- 

Where  T==initial  velocity. 

a=a  co-efficient,  whose  value  depends  on  the  windage. 

w=weight  of  ball.  / 

The  values  of  (?  are  : 

Windage.  Values  of  a. 

0.175 3.6 

0.125 4.4 

0.090 5.0 

2.  Does  a  shot  oi-  shell  continue  at  the  same  uniform, 
velocity  during  its  flight.^ 

The  velocity  decreases  as  the  distance  increases,  in  a 
proportion  a  little  higher  than  the  squares  of  the  ve- 
locities throughout. 

3.  What  causes  a  decrease  in  the  velocity  of  a  shot  .^ 
The  resistance  of  the  air,  which  varies  as  the  square 

of  the  velocity  of  the  shot. 

-tAcy-i    4.  With  balls  of  different  diameters  and  equal  ve- 
-■locities,  to  what  is  the  resistance  of  the  air  propor- 
tional .'*  • 
Their  surfaces  or  the  squares  of  their  diameters. 


138  HAND-BOOK  OF  ARTILLERY. 

5.  Would  the  velocity  of  the  shot  be  increased  by 
lengthening  the  gun? 

Only  up  to  a  certain  point;  in  a  proportion  which  is 
nearly  the  mean  ratio  between  the  square  and  cube 
roots  of  the  length  of  the  bore.  It  is  found  that  the  ve- 
locity given  by  long  guns  is  reduced  to  an  equality  with 
that  of  short  guns  within  a  short  distance  from  the  muz- 
zle when  fired  with  similar  charges. 

6.  Would  the  velocity  of  a  shot  be  increased  by 
entirely  preventing  the  recoif,  or  by  adding  greatly  to 
the  weight  of  the  gun  ? 

In  neither  case  would  an}''  sensible  effect  be  produced, 
on  the  velocity. 

7.  Would  the  velocity  of  the  shot  be  increased  by 
using  a  larger  charge  of  powder? 

Only  to  a  certain  point,  peculiar  to  each  gun  ;  by 
further  increasing  the  charge  the  velocity  would  be 
gradually  diminished  ;  yet  the  recoil  is  always  increased 
by  an  increase  of  charge. 

8.  What  is  the  ratio  of  the  velocities  of  shot,  when  of 
different  weights,  but  fired   with  similar  charges.? 

The  velocities  are  inversely  as  the  square  roots  of 
their  weights. 

9.  What  is  the  ratio  of  the  velocities  of  shot  of  equal 
weights  when  fired  with  different  charges  of  pow- 
der ? 

The  velocities  arc  directly  as  the  square  roots  of  the 
charges. 

10.  How  may  the  velocity  be  increased  without  aug- 
menting the  charge  of  powder  ? 

By  decreasing  the  windage  ;  the  loss  of  velocity 
i/iqi^y  a  given  windage  being  directly  as  the  windage. 
^^^■JFrom  1-8  to  1-12  is  lost  by  a  windage  of  1-40 
diameter.     * 


PRACTICAL    GUNNERY.  139 

11.  What  is  meant  by  the  time  of  flight  of  a  shot  or 
shell  ? 

The  time  during  which  it  "is  passing  through  the  air 
from  the  piece  to  the  first  graze. 

12.  When  firing  with  common  shells  at  45°  elevation, 
how  is  the  time  of  flight  found  ? 

Extract  the  square  root  of  the  range  in  feet  and  divide 
by  4,  or  divide  the  range  in  feet  by  16,  and  extract  the 
square  root  of  this  quotient. 

Note — Range  in  feet=l(/ftx  cotangent  ele^vation. 
=  16/2, \  cotangent  elevation. 
=16^  where  the  elevation  is  45°, 
Or  ^==4\/range  in  feet  for  elevation  45°, 

13.  Having  the  time  of  flight,  how  is  the  range  as- 
certained } 

Multiply  the  square  of  the  time  of  flight  by  16  for  the 
range  in  feet  (the  elevation  being  45°.) 

14.  What  is  meant  by  tiie  penetration  of  projectiles  t 
Tiie   depth  to  which   they  are  forced  when  fired  into 

any  resisting  medium. 

15.  What  depth  do  shot  penetrate  ? 

The  penetration  of  balls  of  the  same  size,  with  differ- 
ent velocities  or  charges,  is  nearly  as  the  squares  of  the 
velocities;  where  the  balls  are  of  difl?erent  sizes,  the 
penetration  will  be  proportionate  to  their  diameters, 
multiplied  by  the  density,  and  inversely  as  the  tenacity 
of  the  medium. 

16.  Mention  the  deplh  of  penetration  in  case  of  the 
24-pdr.  siege  gun. 

^^Q-|       At  100  yards  a   24-pdr.  ball   with    a   charge  of 
-■  one-third  of  its  weight  will  penetrate  as  follows  : 


140  HAXD-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

Feet.     Inches, 
In  earth  of  old  parapets,        -     '        -  8         6 

*'     "     recently  thrown  up,  -  -         15         0 

"  Oak  wood,  sound  and  hard,  -  4         6 

"  Rubble  stone  masonry,  -  1       10 

"  Brick,  -  -         -  -  3         0, 

17.  What,  is  the  depth  of  penetration  of  field  pieces? 

Fired  at  the  distance  of  500  or  600  yards,  the  pene- 
tration will  be  from  4^  to  6  feet  in  parapets  recently 
constructed,  and  will  traverse  walls  of  ordinary  con- 
struction ;  but  a  12- pounder  is  necessary  to  make  a 
breach  in  walls  ofgoo^l  masonry  and  of  4  feet  in  thick- 
ness, and  in  this  case  the  position  of  the  battery  must 
be  favorable,  and  the  operation  a  slow  one. 

18.  In  attacking  a  post,  or  fortified  position,  in  what 
manner  should  the  fire  from  artillery  be  carried  on  ? 

Previous  to  an  assault,  the  artillery  ought  to  support 
the  other  troops  by  a  combined  fire  of  guns,  howitzers, 
and  small  mortars,  so  that,  if  possible,  the  fire  may  be 
simultaneous,  as  such  a  diversity  of  projectiles  would 
tend  to  distract  the  defenders  and  prevent  them  from 
extinguishing  any  fire  among  buildings,  besides  throw- 
ing them  into  confusion  at  the  moment  of  assault.  In 
cases  of  surprise,  when  immediate  action  is  required, 
the  above  method  cannot,  of  couise,  be  practicable. 

19.  When  firing  guns  of  different  calibres  at  long 
ranges,  what  are  the  probabilities  of  hitting  the  object? 

As  the  squares  of  the  diameters  of  their  respective 
shot,  when  of  equal  density,  and  fired  with  proportional 
charges. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  141 

[151 
PART  XIV. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

1.  What  is  the  velocity  of  sound  in  the  air  ? 

At  the  temperature  of  33°  the  mean  velocity'  of  sound 
is  1100  feet  in  a  second.  It  is  increased  or  diminished 
half  afoot  for  each  degree  of  temperature  above  or  be- 
low 33°. 

2.  How  can  the  distance  of  an  object  he  ascertained 
by  the  report  of  fire-arms? 

By  observing  the  number  of  seconds  that  elapse  be- 
tween the  flash  and  the  report  of  a  gun,  and  multiply- 
ing the  number  by  the  velocity  of  sound  in  the  air. 

3.  What  is  momentum  } 

The  iorce  possessed  by  a  body  in  motion  ;  and  is 
measured  by  the  product  of  the  mass  of  the  body  into 
its  velocity. 

4.  When  equal  masses  are  in  motion,  what  propor- 
tion do  their  momenta  bear  to  their  velocities  ? 

They  are  proportional  to  their  velocities. 

5.  When  velocities  are  equal,  what  proportion  do 
their  momenta  bear  to  tlieir  masses  ? 

They  are  proportional  to  their  masses. 

6.  What  proportion  do  the  momenta  bear  to  each 
other '  when  neither  the  masses  nor  velocities  are 
equal  ? 

They  are  to  each  other  as  the  products  of  their  masses 
into  their  velocities  respectively; 

7.  What  is  the  average  weight  of  a  horse  ? 


142  HAND-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

About  1000  pounds.  n^^^ 

8.  What    space  does    a    horse    occupy    in    the  L 
ranks  ;   in  a  stall ;  and  at  a  ))ickot  ? 

In  the  r%nks  a  front  of  40  in.,  a  depth  of  10  feet ;  in 
a  stall,  from  3^  to  4^  feet  front  ;  at   picket   3  feet  by  9. 

9.  What  are  the  comparative  effects  of  the  labor  of 
a  man,  and  that  of  a  horse  or  mule  ? 

Taking  the  useful  effect  of  a  man's  daily  labor  as 
unity,  a  horse  can  carry  a  load  on  a  horizontal  plane,  4.8 
to  6.1  times  ;  and  a  mule,  7.6  times  greater  than  a  man. 
Taking  a  man  with  a  wheel-barrow  as  unity,  a  horse  in 
a  four-wheel  wagon  can  draw  17.5,  and  in  a  cart  24.3; 
and  a  mule  in  a  cart,  23.3  times  greater  burden. 

10.  What  weight  is  an  artillery  horse  required  to 
draw  } 

Not  more  than  700  lbs.,  the  weight  of  the  carriage 
included. 

11.  What  weight  can  a  team  of  four  horses  or  more, 
draw  with  u^^eful  effect .? 

Including  the  weight  of  carriage,  4  horses  can  drawj 
24  cwt.,  or  6  each ;  6  horses,  30  cwt.,  5  each;  8  horses, 
36  cwt.,  4^  each  ;  aud  12  horses,  48  cwt.,  or  4  each. 
It  is  usual  to  estimate  the  weight  of  a  carriage  exceed- 
ing 12  cwt.  as  part  of  the  load. 

12.  What  weights  arc  carried  by  the  riding,  pack, 
and  draught  horses  respectively  ? 

A  horse  carrying  a  soldier  and  his  equipments,  (say 
225  lbs.)  travels  2.5  miles  in  a  day  (8  hours)  ;  a  pack- 
horse  can  carry  250  to  300  lbs.,  20  miles  a  day;  and  a 
draught-horse,  1600  lbs.  23  miles  a  day,  weight  of  car- 
riage included. 

13.  What  are  the  usual  paces  for  horses  in  the  artil- 
lery ? 

15S1     ^^2ilk,  trot  and  gallop;  the  last  is  seldom  neces- 
-'  sary? 


MISCELLANEOUS.  143 

14.  What  is  considered  an  ordinary  day's  march  for 
field  artillery,  and  rate  of  motion  ?  • 

An  ordinary  march  is  about  15  miles  at  2^-  miles  per 
hour  for  6  hours;  this  must  depend  upon  the  condition 
of  the  horses,  state  of  the  roads,  and  various  other  cir- 
cumstances. Horses  starting  fresh,  and  rcstinj^  after 
their  work,  may,  on  tolerable  roads,  perform  2  miles  in 
half  an  hour;  4  miles  in  1^  hours;  8  in  4,  and  16  in 
10  hours. 

15.  What  is  the  rate  of  m;irch  of  horse  artillery  and 
'cavalry  ? 

Walk,  3f  miles  per  hour,  or  1  mile  in  16  minutes; 
trot,  7^  per  hour,  or  1  mile  in  8  minutes;  manoeuvring 
gallop,  at  the  rate  of  11  miles  per  hour,  or  1  mile  in  3 
minutes  ;  cavalry  charge,  24  miles  an  hour,  or  at  the 
rate  of  1  mile  in  2^  minutes. 

16.  At  what  rate  does  infantry  march? 

In  common  time,  90  steps=70  yards  in  1  minute,  or 
2  miles  680  yards  in  an  hour;  in  quick  time,  110  steps 
=:86  yards  in  a  minute,  or  2  miles  1613  yards  in  an 
hour;  in  double  quick,  140  steps=i09  yards  in  1  mi- 
nute, or  3  miles  1253  yards  in  an  hour. 

17.  What  space  does  a  foot  soldier  occupy  in  the 
ranks,  and  what  is  his  average  weight  ? 

A  front  of  20  in.,  and  a  depth  of  13  in.,  without  the 
knapsack;  the  interval  between  the  ranks  is  13  in.;  5 
men  can  stand  in  a  space  of  1  square  yard.  Average 
weight  of  men,  150  lbs.  each. 

18.  What  is  the  daily  allowance  of  water  for  a  r.^-. 
man  r 

One  gallon,  for  all  purposes. 

19.  What  is  it  for  a  horse? 
Four  gallons. 

20.  What  is  the  weight  of  a  bushel  of  oats  ;  or  of 
wheat;  and  the  weight  of  hay? 


144  ..  HAND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

40  lbs.,  or  32.14  lbs.  to  the  cubic  foot,  in  case  of  oats  ; 
60,  lbs.  to  the  bushel,  or  48.21  lbs.  to  the  cubic  foot,  in 
case  of  wheat;  hay  presssd  in  bunviies,  weighs  11  lbs. 
per  cubic  foot. 

21.  VV'iiat  weight  does  an  infantry  soldier  carry  when 
in  marching  order  ? 

About  45  lbs.  in  all.  His  knapsack  when  packed 
weighs  24  lbs.  ;  canteen  when  filled,  and  one  day's  pro- 
visions in  haversack,  5  lbs.  ;  rifle,  musket,  sling,  and 
bayonet,  10^  lbs.  ;  belts,  complete,  including  20  rounds 
of  ammunition,  6  lbs. 

22.  How  is  the  area  of  a  circle  found  : 

Square  the  diameter,  and  multiply  by  .78.54  for  the 
area;  or  square  the  circumference,  and  multiply  by 
.07958  for  the  same  result. 

23.  How  is  the  content  of  a  conical  frustum  found  ? 
Add  into  one  sum,  the  areas  of  the  two  ends  and  the 

mean  proportional  between  them  ;  take  one-third  of 
that  sum  for  the  mean  area,  and  multiply  it  by  the  per- 
pendicular hfight  of  the  frustum,  for  its  content. 

24.  How  is  the  mean  proportional  found  for  the 
above  ? 

By  multiplying  the  areas   of  the  two   ends  together 
and    extracting    the  square-root  of  their  product,  r-iprp- 
A  more  simple  rule  is  the  following:  As    the    di-  ^ 
amctcr  of  the  large  end  is  to  that  of  the    small  end,  so 
is  area  of  base  to  mean  proportional  required. 

25.  How  is  the  content  of  a  spherical  segment  found? 
From  three    times    the    diameter  of  the  sphere,  take 

double  the  height  of  the  segment,  then  multiply  the 
remainder  by  the  square  of  the  height,  and  this  product 
by  .5236  ;  or,  to  three  times  the  square  of  the  radius  of 
the  segment's  base,  add  the  square  of  its  height,  then 
multiply  the  sum  by  the  height,  and  this  product  by 
.5236,  for  the  content. 


MISGELLA  NEOlTt? .  145 

26.  .How  is  the  capacity  or  content  of  a  (corner  cham- 
ber computed  ? 

This  chamber  being  the  frustum  of  a  cone  with  a 
hemispherical  bottom,  its  capacity  will  be  found  by  ap 
plying  the  foregoing  rules,  viz  :  first  find  the  conteni 
of  the  frustum,  then  that  of  the  spherical  segment  or 
bottom,  and  add  their  contents?  into  one  sum  for  the  ca- 
pacity. 

27.  How  is  the  content  of  a  rectangular  box  ascer- 
tained ? 

Multiply  the  length  by  the  breadth,  and  this  product 
by  the  "depth. 

28.  How  is  the  capacity  of  a  cylinder  calculated  r 
Multiply  the  area  of  the  base  by  the  height. 

29.  How  is  the  content  of  a  barrel  found  / 
Multiply  half  the  sum  of  the  areas  of  the  two  interior 

circles,   taken   at  the   head  and  bung,  by    the  interior 
length/  or,  to  the  area  of  the  head,  add  twice  the  area 
at  the  bung,  multiply  that  sum  by  the  length,  and  take 
one-third  of  the  product  for  the  content. 
.^^-,     30.   What  is  meant  by  the  term,  enfilade? 

-•     Sweeping  the  whole   extent  of  a  work,  line  of 
troops,  deck  of  a  ship,  &c.,  with  shot  or  shells. 

31.  What  does  defilade  mean  ? 

The  art  of  disposing  gun^,  troops,  or  works  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  shall  be  prctedted  from  a  plunging- 
iire  from  adjoining  heights;' 

32.  What  are  the  dimensions  required  for  an  earthen 
parapet  to  resist  the  fire  of  field  or  siege^gutis  ? 

6  feet  for  6-pdrs.;  14  feet  for  12-pdrs.;  18  fdet  for  24 
or  18-pdrs.:  foui-  feet  of  oak  or  brick  will  resist  cannon 
shot? 

33.  What  thickness  of  ice  will  admit  the  passage  of 
infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery? 

Ice  three  inches  thick  will  bear  infantry  marching  in 
E 


140 


AND-BOOK    OF    ARTILLERY 


file  ;  from  4^  to  6^  inches,  cavalry  and  light  artillery  ; 
and  beyond  that  the  heaviest  gun  carriages  may  pass  in 
safety.  Ice  8  inches  thick  will  bear  nearly  10  cwt. 
upon  a  square  foot  without  danger. 

34.  How  is  the  size  of  a  rope  designated  ? 

By  its  circumference  ;  thus  a  two-inch  rope  rs  a  rope 
two  inches  in  circumference. 

35.  How  is  the  strength  of  a  hemp  rope,  or  the 
weicjht  it  will  support,  ascertained  ? 

Square  the  circumference  in  inches,  and  divide  by 
0,  for  the  weight  in  tons  that  it  will  bear  suspended 
from  it. 

-  36.  How  can  the  breadth  of  a  river  be  ascertained 
without  instruments? 

As  follows:  [157 


1st.  The  line  JIB  (the  distance  to  be   determined)  is 
extended  upon  the    bank  to   D,  from   which  j)uint,  after 


MISCELLANEOUS.  147 

having  marked  it,  lay  off  equal  distances  DC  and  Cd; 
produce  BC  to  b,  making  Cdz=CB;  then  extend  the 
line  db  until  it  intersects  the  prolongation  of  the  line 
CjJ  at  a.  The  distance  ab  is  equal  to  ^B  or  the  width 
of  the  river. 

2d.  Lay  off  any  convenient  distance  BC,  perpendic- 
ular to  JIB,  erect  a  perpendicular  DC  to  .^C,  note  the 
point  D  where  it  intersects  .^^  produced  ;  measure  BD; 
then 

^B= .* 

BD 

37.  How  can  the  breadth  of  a  river  be  ascertained  by 
the  means  of  the  peak  of  a  cap,  or  cocked  hat  ? 

^-gj-.  Place  yourself  at  the  edge  of  one  bank,  and  low- 
-^er  the  peak  of  the  cap,  or  point  of  the  hat  till  the 
edge  cut  the  other  bank,  then  steady  your  head  by  pla- 
cing your  hand  under  your  chin,  and  tui-n  gently 
around  to  some  level  spot  of  ground  on  your  own  side 
of  the  river,  and  observe  where  your  peak  or  pouU  of 
your  hat  again  meets  the  ground;  measure  this  distance, 
which  will  be  nearly  the  breadth  of  the  river. 

38.  How  do  you  ascertain  the  distance  of  an  object 
by  means  of  the  tangent  scale  of  a  gun,  the  height  of 
the  object  at  the  required  distance  being  known  ? 

Direct  the  line  of  metal  d[  the  gun  on  the  top  of  the 
object  :•  then  r;iise  the  tangent  slide  till  the  top  of  it 
and  notch  on  the  muzzle  are  in  line  with  the  foot  of  the 
object,  and  note  what  length  of  scale  is  required,  then, 
by  similar  triangles,  as  the  length  of  the  raised  part  of 
the  tangent  scale  is    to    the  length  of   the  gun,  so  is 

■•■•■Tbe  second  method  w;is  siic-o-ested  to  me  mv  Capt.  "^'og-des,  1st 
Irtillerv    U.  8.  A. 


148  HAXD-BOOK   OF   ARTILLERY. 

the   height   of  the  distant  object    to  the    distance    re- 
quired. 

39.  What  composition  may  be  used  for  greasing  the 
axle-trees  of  artiU'ery  carriages? 

Hog's  lard  softened  by  working  it.  If  this  cannot 
be  procured,  tallow  or  other  grease  may  be  used  ;  If 
hard,  it  .-honld  be  melted  with  fish  oil. 

40.  What  is  the  simplest  method  of  bursting  open 
strong  gates  ? 

Suspend  a  bag  of  gunpowder  containing  50  or  60 
lbs.,  near  the  middle  of  the  gate,  upon  a  nail  or  gim- 
let, h-aving  a  ^mall  piece  of  poi  t-fire  inserted  at  the  bot- 
^fm.  and  well  secured  with  twine. 

41.  What  is  the  hngth  of  a  pendulum  to  vibrate  sec- 
i,t:s.  hulf  and  quarter  seconds   respectively.? 

Seconds,  39,1  inc[)es  ;  half  seconds,  9.8  inches;  and 
quarter  seconds,  2"45  inches. 

,^q-]     42.  Give  a   formula  for  determining  the  length 
-■of  the  seconds  pendulum  in  any  latitude. 
1 

/-= [32.1803  feet— 0.0821  cos.  2  lat.] 

9.8696044 

43.  how  are  th"e  times  of  a  single  oscillation  of  two 
pendulums  to  each  other.? 

As  the  square  roots  of  their  length. 

44.  Repeat  the  table  of  measuies. 

10  teotb?,  -  -  .  -  _  -  1  inch. 

4  inches,  -    .    -  -  -  -  -  l  hand. 

12  inches,  _  .  -  .  .  _  i  foot. 

28  inches,  .  _  _  .  _  _  i  pj^ee. 

3  feet,  -  .  .  _  „  -  1  yard. 

2  yards,  -  .  _  .  .  _  i  hithom. 

220  yards,,  .  .  _  _  .  .  1  furlong. 

17()0  yai'ds,  *  _  _  _  _  _  _  1  mile. 

45.  Repent  the  table  of  avoirdupois  weisrbt. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  14^ 

47.34*735  grains,  -  -  -  -  ~  1  dram.     . 

16  drams,  -  -  -  -  -  1  ounce. 

16  ounces,         .   -  -  -  -  -  1  pound. 

28  pounds,  -  -  -  -  -  1  quarter. 

4  qrs.  or  112  lbs.,  -  -  -  -  1  cwt. 

20  cwt,,  -  -  -  -  -  1  ton. 

In  some  of  our  States  the  ton  is  estimated  at  2,000  lbs. 

46.  What  is  the  force  of  gravit}^  ? 

It  is  that  force  of  attraction  exerted  by  the  earth  upon 
all  particles  of  matter  which  tends  to  urge  them  towards 
its  centre. 

47.  What  is  the  specific  gravity  of  a  body  ^ 

The  ratio  of  the  weight  of  a  body  to  that  of  an  equal 
volume  of  some  other  body  assumed  as  a  standard, 
usually  pure  distilled  water  at  a  certain  tempera- 
ture. ^ 

48.  What  is  the  law  of  descent  of  falling  bodies  ? 
The  spaces  fallen  through   from  the  commencement 

of  the  descent  are  proportional   to  the   squares   of  the 
times  elapsed.  ♦ 

49.  What  compositions  are  made  use  of  for  P^'^-r-taQ 
servijig  iron  cannon  .'*  ^ 

1.  Black  lead,  pulverized,  -  -  -  12 
Red  lead,  -  -  .  .  -  12 
Litharge,             -        -  ,      -  -  -- 

Lam])biack,        -         -  -  -  -             5  ' 

Linseed  Oil.       -         -  -  -  6o 

Boil  it  gently  about  20  minute-,  during  which  tiine  it 
must  be  constantly  stirrred. 

2.  Umber,  ground,  -  -  -  -  -  3.75 
Gum  Shellac,  pulverized.  •  -  -  :'.*I5 
Tvory  Black,  -  -  -  -  -.75 
Litharge.  -  -  .  %  .  -  3.75 
Linseed  Oil,  -  -  -  -  73 
Spirits  of  Turpentine,    -  -  -  -               1.2'> 


15U  HA^D-BuOK    OF    ARTILLERY. 

The  oil  must  be  first  boiled  half  an  hour  ;  the  mix- 
ture is  then  boiled  24  hours,  poured  off  from  the  sedi- 
ment, and  put  in  jugs,  corked. 

3.   Coal  tar  (of  good  quality),  -  -       2  gals. 

Spirits  of  turpentine,       -  -  -       1  pint. 

In  applying  lacker,  the  surface  of  the  iron  must  be 
first  cleaned  with  a  scraper  and  a  wire  brush,  if  neces- 
sary, and  the  lacker  applied  hot,  in  two  thin  coats,  with 
a  paint  brush.  It  is  better  to  do  it  in  summer.  Old 
lacker  should  be  removed  with  a  scraper,  or  by  scouring, 
and  not  by  heating  the  guns  or  balls,  by  which  the  me- 
tal is  injured. 

About  5  gallons  of  lacker  aie  required  for  100  field- 
guns  and  1000  shot :  about  1  quart  for  a  sea-coast  gun. 
JBetbre  the  lacker  is  applied,  every  particle  of  rust  is 
removed  from  the  gun,  J^  the  vent  cleared  out. 

50.  How  many  gallons  does  a  cubic  foot  contam  ? 
7.48  gallons. 

51.  What  is  the  weight  of  a  gallon  of  distilled  water/ 
.....       At  the    ma'ximum    density  (39°. 83  Fahr.),  the 

-■  baiometer  being  at  30   inches,  it   weighs    8.33888 
avoirdupois  pounds,  or  58373  Troy  grains. 

52.  What  are  the  different  lengths  of  plummets  for 
regulating  the  march  of  infantry  ? 


Common  time,    - 

99  steps  in  a  minute, 

17.37  inches 

Quick  time, 

-     110       " 

-      11.6     •♦ 

Double  quick,     - 

-     140       " 

-       7.18     " 

53.  How  is  a  plummet  made.^ 

By  means  of  a  musket  ball,  suspended  by  a  silk 
string,  upon  which  the  required-  lengths  are  marked  , 
the  length  is  measured  fronj  the  point  of  suspension  to 
the  centre  of  the  ball,, 

54.  Explain  how  to  embark  and  disembark  artillery 
and  it?  stores. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  151 

1.  Divide  the  total  quantity  to  be  transported  among 
the  vessels,  and  place  in  each  vessel  every  thing  neces- 
sary for  the  service  i-equired  at  the  moment  of"  disem- 
barkation, so  that  there  will  be  no  inconvenience  should 
other  vessels  be  delayed. 

2.  If  a  siege  is  to  be  undertaken,  place  in  each  ves- 
sel with  each  piece  of  artillery  its  implements,  ammu- 
nition, and  the  carriages  necessary  to  transport  the 
whole  or  a  part;  the  platforms,  tools,  instruments,  and 
materials  for  constructing  batteries  ;  skids,  rollers, 
scantling,  and  plank. 

3.  If  a  particular  calibre  of  gun  is  necessary  for  any 
operation,  do  not  place  all  of  one  kind  in  one  vessel,  to 
avoid  being  entirely  deprived  of  them  by  any  accident. 

4.  Dismount  the  carriages,  wagons,  and  limbers,  by 
taking  off  the  wheels  and  bd^s,  and,  if  absolutely  ne- 
cessary, (he  axle-trees.  Place  in  the  boxes  the  linch- 
pins, washers,  ^c,  with  the  tools  required  for  put-  r-j^n 
ting  the  carriage  together  again.  Number  each  car-  ' 
riage,  and  mark  each  detached  article  with  the  number 
of  the  carriage    to  which  it  belongs, 

5.  The  contents  of  each  box,  barrel,  or  bundle,  should 
be  marked  distinctly  upon  it.  The  boxes  should  be 
made  small  for  tne  convenience  of  hendling,  and  have 
rope  handles  to  lift  them  by. 

6.  Place  the  heaviest  articles  below,  beii^inning  with 
ilie  shot  and   shells   (empty),  then   the  gun-,  platforms, 

.irriages,  wagons,  limbers,  ammunition  boxes,  &,c.  ; 
boxes  of  small  arms  and  ammunitien  in  the  dryest  and 
least  exposed  part  of  the  vessel.  Articles  required  to 
be  disembarked  first  should  be  put  in  last,  or  so  placed 
that  they  can  be  readily  got  at. 

If  the  disembarkation  is  to  be  performed  in  front  (  f 
the  enemy,  some  ot  the  field-pieces  should  be  so  nhc^d 
that  thev  can   be   disembarked   immediatelv,  wit.j  their 


id2  MANU-BUUK    Ui"    AKTlLLLKi. 

carriages,  implements  and  ammunition  ;  also  the  tools 
and  materials  for  throwing  up  temporary  intrenchments 
on  landing. 

7.  Some  vessels  should  be  laden  solely  with  such  pow- 
der and  ammunition  as  may  not  be  required  for  the  im- 
mediate service  of  the  pieces. 

8.  On  a  smooth,  sandy  beach,  heavy  pieces,  &c., 
maybe  landed  by  rolling  them  overboard  as  soon  as  the 
boats  ground,  and  hauling  them  up  with  sling-carts. 


103] 


APPENDIX. 


RIFLE  CANNON. 

A  Rifle  is  a  firearni  whi'jli  has  sjirfil  gTOoves  cut  into  the  surface 
of  its  bore,  for  the  puri^ose  otcomumniealinr!:  a  rotary  motion  to  a 
projectile  around  an  axis  coinciding  with  the  direction  of  ite  flight. 

The  object  of  this  rotation  is  to  increase  the  range  of  a  projectile, 
by  causing  it  to  move  through  the  air  in  tli»  dkection  of  its  leaat 
resistance,  and  to  correct  the  cause  of  deviation  by  distributing  it 
uniformly  around  the  line  of  flight. 

Various  plans  have  been  tried  .to  secure  tl|e  safest  and  surest 
means  of  causing  the  projectile  to  follow  the  spiral  grooves  as  it 
passes  along  ihe  bore  of  a  rifled  piece.  Those  projectiles,  Avhich 
promise  to  be  the  most  successful  for  heavy  guus,  may  be  ranged 
under  two  heads,  viz  : 

1st.  Those  which  have  flanges  or  projections  on  them  to  fit  into 
the  grooves  of  the  gun  in  loading. 

The  flanges  are  made  of  softer  metal  than  the  body  of  the  pro- 
jectile. 

3d,  Those  which  are  constructed  on  an  expanding  principle. 

The  body  is  generally  made  of  cast  iron  ;  and  the  expanding 
portion  is  a  band  or  cup  of  some  softer  metal,  as  pewter,  copper,  or 
1641  ^''^'^''^^^  ;>07i,  which  enters  the  bore  of  the  piece  freely  when 
-J  it  is  loaded,  but  which  is  forced  into  the  grooves  by  the  dis- 
charge. 

The  grooves  are  of  different  forms,  determined  by  the  angle 
made  by  the  tangent  line  at  any  point  with  the  corresponding  ele- 
ment of  the  bore.  If  the  angles  be  equal  at  all  points,  the  groove 
is  said  to  be  uniform.  If  they  increase  from  the  breech  to  the 
muzzle,  the  grooves  are  caUeA  increasing  ;  if  the  reverse,  decreas- 
ing grooves  The  practical  method  of  cutting  grooves  consists  in 
moving  ;i  rod  armed  with  a  cutter,  back  and  forth  in  the  bore,  and 
at  the  same  time  revolving  it  around  its  axis.  If  the  velocities  of 
translation  and  rotation  be  boih  uijiform,  the  grooves  will  have  a 
uniform    twist  :  if  one   of  the   velocities  be  variable,  the  grooves 


.l54  APPENDIX.  . 

will  be  either  increasinjj  or  decreasinjj,  depending  on  the  relative 
velocities  in  the  two  directions. 

Twist  is  the  term  employed  by  gunmakers  to  e.\:})ress  the  incli- 
nation of  a  ^'■roove  at  any  point,  and  is  measured  by  the  tangent 
of  the  angle  which  the  groove  makes  with  the  axis  of  the  bore  ; 
and  this  is  always  equal  to  the  circiiinference  of  the  bore  divided  by 
the  leiKjth  of  a  single  revolution  of  the  spiral  measured  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  axis. 

The  most  suitable  inclination  of  grooves  for  rifle  cannon  has  not 
yet  been  determined  experimentally  ;  and  consequently  a  wide 
diversity  of  twists  is  employed  by  different  experimenters. 

The  following  table*  i)resents  a  synopsis  of  the  results  in  case 
of  some  rifle  cannon  tested  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  in  1859,  by  a 
Board  composed  of  ordinance  and  artillery  officers. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  the  report  of  the  Board  : 

"  The  method  of  obtaining  rifle  motion  in  iJiese  differentp.  ,__ 
guns  is  of  two  kinds  ;  L     '^ 

"  1.  Flanged  projectiles  entering  into  the  grooves  of  the  gun. 

"2.  Expanding  projectiles,  which  are  forced  into  the  grooves 
by  the  action  of  the  charge.  Although  the  flanged  projectile, 
when  made  with  great  precision,  has  given  good  results,  as  shown 
by  the  tables  of  firing,  the  extreme  nicety  in  its  fabrication,  and 
the  care  and  trouble  to  load  the  gun,  particularly  when  it  becomes 
foul  by  firing,  seems  to  render  it  not  as  suitable  for  service  as  the 
expanding  projectile, 

"  From  the  results  obtained,  the  conclusion  is  inevitable  that 
the  era  of  smooth-bore  field  artillery  has  passed  away,  and  that 
the  period  of  the  adoption  of  rifle-cannon  for  siege  and  garrison 
service  cannot  be  remote.  The  superiority  of  elongated  j)iojec- 
tiles,  whether  solid  or  hollow,  with  the  rifle  rotation,  as  regards 
economy  of  ammunition,  extent  of  range,  and  uniformity  and  ac- 
curacy of  elFcct,  over  the  present  system,  is  decided  and  unques- 
tionable." 

The  Armstrong  gu.v,  of  which  so  much  h;is  been  said,  i)elongs 
to  the  class  of  breech-loading  rifle-cannon.  Us  projectile  is  made 
pf  cast  iron,  .surrounded  l)y  two  leaden  rings,  jilaced  at  the  ex- 
tremities of  the  cylindrical  part,  for  the  puii)ose  of  engaging  the 
grooves,  when  it  is  forcmj  through  the  bore.  The  great  range  and 
accuracy  claimed  for  this  projectile,  are  probably  derived  from  its 
great  length  corai)ared  with  its  diameter;  butq,  gun  of  great 
strength  would  be  required  to  project  it. 

•*  See  Table,  pages  156,  157. 


15G 


AITEXDIX. 


166] 


TARGET    40'    BY    20'. 


Bore. 

• 
Grooves. 

■ 

Name. 

Calibre. 

~~ 

Twist. 

J3 

Width 

Di'pth. 

a 

1" 

6 

S 

h3 

IS 

iti. 

in. 

in. 

in. 

Sawyer  - 

24-pdr. 

5.862 

no 

6 

1.5 

0.25 

Uniform,  one  turn 
in  34 >^  fenl. 

Dimick  - 

3-3-pdr. 

G.4 

101 

6 

2.0 

0.2 
rectau. 

Increasing  from  0 
to()neturninC2i/o 
feet  at  muzzle  ;' 
twist  to  the  right 

Dr.  Head 

l2-pdr  Siege 

4.854 

109 

7 

l-14th 
circum 

.03  to  .08 

Increasing  from  0 
at  commenccm-t 
to  one  turn  in  50 
feet  at  muzzle. 

Do.      - 

12-pdr  Field 

4.636 

74 

do. 

do. 

Do.            do. 

Do.     - 

32pdr. 

6.435 

110 

3 

l-6tli 
circuui 

.085  to  .12 
circular. 

Uniform,  one  turn 
in  40  feet. 

Do.     - 

G  pdr. 

3.69 

103.4 

3 

do. 

To  to  77.111 
circular. 

Uniform,  to  the 
right,  one  turn 
in  25  feet. 

Capt.  Dyer 

3-pdr. 

2.y 

44.5 

8 

0.4 

.05 

Uniform,  one  turn 
in  16  feet. 

Do.     - 

6 pdr  bronze 

3.67 

.57.5 

16 

0.5 

.025 

Uniform,  one  turn 
in  19  feel. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  several  projectiles,  viz  : 

Sawyer's.— Flanged  projectile  ;  elongated  ;  entire  shell  coated  vvltli  an  alloy 
cliiefly  of  lead,  and  has  a  percussion  cap  on  small  end. 

DiiMiCK's. — E.xpanding  e-hell;  elongated;  cup  of  soft  metal  cast  on  rear  end 
of  jtrojectile. 


APPENUIX. 


157 


167 


TARGET    40'  BY    20'. COnfiHUet/.' 


Wis. 

8^22 


9300 


J  900 
8500 

1200 
250 


lbs. 

'     I 


1000  IabKIb. 


2000  Yards. 


22  13 


6 

i 

u 


c 

o  ■- 

5.  « 

1 
o  t 

r 

- 

o 

2 

1^ 

0     / 

// 

o    , 

II 

15 

13 

2 

9 

119 

32 

17 

4  30 

6 

7 

n 

1 

2  15 

21 

6 

5 

6>i^ 

S6 

14 

9 

2  15 

30 

5 

8 

4  30 

48 

16 

3 

2 

3 

10 

8 

2 

2  15 

3 

84 

19 

8 

5 

63^ 

28 

18 

4 

2  10 

52 

9 

5 

4  45 

28 

. 

5 

2  25 

18 

4 

.2 

5>^. 

7 

22 

11 

4 

2  15 

4359 


3665 


3270 


=  2 
o  s 

3.33 

J.  > 


i3m 


11  30 


13  30  1 


Reed's. — The  body  is  of  cast  lion  and  the  expabding  portion  is  a  cup  df 
wrought  iron,  which  is  fastened  to  tlie  body  by  in.serting  it  in  the 
mould  and  pouring  tlie  melted  metal  around  it. 

Dyer's. — Uescription  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  DimicR's, 


IlJirDEX, 


j^"  The  pages  refer  to  the  figures  in  brackets  []  in  the  margin 
of  the  text. 

AIR:  Resistance  of,  14S. 

AMMUNITION  :  For  fielfi  battery,  41  ;  for  siege  train,  37-8  ;  sto- 
raiie,  103-4;  preparation,  93—4,  100-1-2;  weights  of  fixed,  107. 

ANGLE:  Of  greatest  range.  66  ;  of  fall,  74;  of  least  elevation  for 
mortars,  67;  of  elevation  for  stone  mortars,  67 — Natural  angle 
of  sight,  12  ;   of  guns,  26;  of  howitzers,  29  ;   of  columbiads,  30. 

ANIMAL  POWER,  152. 

ARC,  elevating,  18. 

AREA  of  a  circle,  154. 

ARMSTRONG  GUN,  165. 

ARTIFICIAL  LINK  OF  SIGHT,   53. 

ARTILLERV  :  Definition,  9— Method  of  embarking  and  disem- 
barking, 161-2 — Carriages  (see  carriages) — Kinds  of,  9  ;  how 
distinguished,  9 — Proportion  of,  to  Infantry,  40 — Proportion  of 
different  kinds  in  a  field  train,  40:  in  siege  train,  36  ;  for  moun- 
tain service,  42  ;  for  armament  of  forts^  35 — How  rendered  un- 
serviceable. 20-1 . 

ASTRAGAL  AND  FILLETS:  Definition,  13. 

ATTACK  of  a  post.  150. 

AVOIRDUPOIS  WEIGHT,  159. 

AXIS  OF  A  PIECE  :  Definition,  12. 

BALLS;  Diameters  and  weights,  105-G;  computation  of  weight 
and  diameter,  95;  piling,  103;  number  in  a  pile,  104-5;  fire, 
92  ;  light,  92  :  smoke,  93  ;  penetration,  149-50. 

BARBETTE  CARRIAGE:  Kinds,  132— Parts  composing,  133— 
Description,  133-4. 

BARRELS:  For  gunpowder,  marking,  88  ;  piling,  88  ;  trans])or- 
tation,  89. 

BATTERY:  Definition  of,  11— Of  field  artillery,  composition,  41  ; 
tactics,  44-5-6-7-8-9-50 — Mountain  artillery,  42 — Ammunition 
for  field  batterv.  41. 


160  INDEX. 

BATTERY-WAGON,  143-4. 

BEDS,  mortar  :  Weifjhts,  33— Truunion  beds,  129 — Siege  mortar, 
130-1— Coehorn,  131— Eprouvette,  131— Ileavv  sen-coast,  131-2. 

BASE-RING:   Definition,  13. 

BASE  OF  THE  BREECH  :  Definition  of.  13. 

BOARD,  Pointing,  58.  ^ 

BORE:  Definition,  14;  bottom  of,  15. 

BORMANN  FUZE,  112-13. 

BRASS  CANNON  :  External  injury,  23. 

BREADTH  of  a  river  ascertained,  157-8. 

BREACHING:  Battery,  best  position  for,  38;  manner  of,  38-9  ; 
time  required,  39. 

BREECH;  Definition,  13 — Sights,  liI;  how  used,,  53  ;  construc- 
tion, 17  ;   i)ieces  supplied  with,  17. 

BRONZE  :  Objections  to,  for  cannon,  10  ;  Avhy  used  for  field 
pieces.  10;  kinds  of  bronze  pieces  used,  11. 

BURNING  gunpowder  :  quickness  of,   87. 

BURSTING'  OPEN  gates,  158. 

BUSHING  a  piece,  20  ,  metal  used  for,  in  bronze  pieces.  20  ;  ob- 
ject of,  20  ;  all  new  artillery  not  bushed.  20. 

CAISSON  :  Description  of,  142-3 ;  number  with  a  field  battery, 
41. 

CAKING  of  powder  prevented,  89. 

CALIBRE:  Definition,  12  ;  number  in  a  piece  ascertained,  12. 

CANISTERS,  91  :  For  field  service,  how  made,  94  ;  for  siege  and 
sea-coast  service,  how  made,  95 — How  piled,  104. 

CANNON;  bore,  12 — Brass,  external  and  internal  injuries,  23 — 
Dimensions,  how  regulated,  11 — For  siege  train,  36 — Iron,  inju- 
ries, 24 — preservation  of,  25  ;  service  of,  how  judged,  24 — How 
marked,  21-2 — Condemned  cannon,  how  marked,  22 — Proof  of, 
22— Kinds,  9— Length  of,  27-8,  30,  33— Rifle  cannon,  163-7. 

CARCASSES,  92. 

CARRIAGES  :  Classification,  123— Movable,  123;  field  gun,  125- 
6;  Mountain  artillery,  127;  i)rairie,  127;  limbers,  126-9; 
siege  gun,  128 — Stationary,  129-30;  liarbette,  132-.3-4;  case- 
mate, 138-9;  columbiad,  130-7;  flank-casemate,  140 — Mortar 
beds.  131 — Wrought  iron,  141-2 — Number  in  a  field  battery,  41. 

CARTRIDGE-BAGS  :  Where  filled,  89. 

CARTRIDGES  :  For  hot  shot,  97. 

CASCABLE,  13. 

CASEMATE:  Carriage,  138-9— Gin,  140. 

CHAMBER  :  Definition,  14  ;  object  of,  32  :  form  for  mortars,  32  ; 
for  howitzers,  28  ;  for  epronvclle;  32  :   goiner,  32. 


INUEX.  Itji 

CHARGES  :  Definition,  60— For  breeching,  60— For  double  shot, 
60 — For  field  guns  and  howitzers,  62 — For  fire-balls,  61 — For 
heavy  guns,  columbiads  and  howitzers,  62 — Service  charge  for 
heavy  guns,  60 — For  hot  shot,  60 — Greatest  charges  for  mortars, 
62 — For  mortars,  how  regulated,  61 — For  ricochet  firing,  60— 
For  shells  fired  from  columbiads  aiulheavy  guns,  108 — For  field 
shells,  108 — For  mortar  shells.  107— -For  spherical  case  shot,  108. 

CHASE,  Definition,  13. 

CHASSIS:  For  barbette  carriage,  134-:i — For  casemate,  carriage, 
139-40 — For  columbiad,  138 — For  flank-casemate,  141  —For 
■wrought  iron  carriage,  142. 

CHEEKS,  124. 

COEHORX  MORTAR:  Diameter,  ;-J3— Weight  of  bed,  33- 
Length  of,  33  ;  Length  of  bore,  33 — Length  of  chamber,  33 — 
Use,  34 — Greatest  charge  for,  62 — -Bed,  description  of,  131. 

COLUMBIADS:  Definition,  30— Windage,  82— Charges,  62— 
Chamber,  30— Peculiarities,  30— Weights,  30 — Length,  30 — Na- 
tural angle  of  sight,  30 — Gun  carriage,  136-7  ;  chassis,  137-8 — 
Shells,  charges  for,  108  ;   method  of  loading.  102. 

COMPOSITION  for  preserving  iron  pieces,  160  ;  application,  160  ; 
for  axle-trees  of  carriaofes,  158. 

CONDEMNED  CANNON,  how  marked,  22  :  shot,  bow  marked, 
102. 

CONTENT:  Of  a  barrel,  155;  box,  155;  «:oni.'  trustum,  154: 
gomer  chamber,  155;  spherical  .segment.  155  ;   cvlinder,  155. 

DAYS  MARCH:  Of  field  artillery,  153. 

DEFILADE  :  Definition,  156. 

DEPTH  OF  PENETRATION  of  balls,  I49-5». 

DESCENT  of  [ailing  bodies  :  Law  of,  159. 

DIAMETER  :    Of  coehorn  mortar,  33  ;  of  eiirouvette.  iJ3  :  of  stone 

mortar,  33  ;  of  cast  iron    shot,  liow  found,  05  ;  of  shot,  shells, 

and  spherical  cMse,  105;   of  vent,  16. 
DIMEMSIONS  :  Of  cannon,  how  regulated,    11;  of  a  parapet  to 

resist  field  artillerv,  1^6. 
DIPPING  OF  THE"  MUZZLE,  77-8. 
DIS'lIARGES:  Number  an  iron  c^un  r.;n  tti-Iain,  39. 
DISH  of  a  wheel,  124. 

DIRECTION,  how  given  :  To  guns  and  howitzers,  51-2  ;  to  mor- 
tars, 56-8 — At  night,  55,  59 — When   wheels  are  not  on  same 

level.  54 
DISTANCE  :  For  firing  field  pieces.  46 — Ascertained  by  sound, 

151 — Determined  by  a  tangent  scale,    158 — Of  recoil,   77 — Of 

ricochet  battery  from  object,  74. 


J  (>2  iM)i!.X. 

DLSPART  :   Dcnnitiou,  13. 

DOI.PHIXS:  Definition,  19;  pieces  furnished  wiib,  19. 

DRIVING  OUT  shot  wedged  in  the  bore,  21. 

ELEVATION  :  Necessity  for,  51 — How  given  to  guns  and  howit- 
zers, 52  ;  to  mortars,  66 ;  instruments  for,  52 — Angle  of,  for 
mortars,  67 :  greatest  angle  in  vacuo,  66  :  angle  of  for  ricochet 
fire,  74. 

ELEVATING  ARC,  18. 

E.MBARKING  Artillery  and  its  stores,  161-2. 

ENFILADE:  Definition,  156. 

ENFILADING  a  work,  73-4-5— Object  to  be  fired  at,  73. 

EPRUUVETTE.  11;  form  of  chamber,  :52— Calibre,  33— Use  of, 
34— Bed,  .33,  131— Length  of  bore,  33. 

EXPANSION  of  hot  shot,  96. 

EXTERNAL  injury  to  cannon,  23-4. 

FACE  of  the  piece  :  Definition  of,  14. 

FALL  :  Point  of,  73— Anirle  of,  74. 

FALLING  BODIES,  law  of  descent,  159. 

FIELD  ARTILLERY  :  Charges  for,  62— Kinds,  40— Tactics,  44-9, 
50. 

FIELD  BATTERY  :  Number  of  pieces,  40— Battery  of  horse  ar- 
tillery, 41 — Compositibh  of,  on  a  war  establishment,  41 — Com- 
position of  mountain  howitzer  l:iattery,  42 — Ammunition,  41 — 
Draught  horses,  42. 

FIELD  GUN,  how  mounted,  -M— Charges  for,  62. 

FIELD  CARRIAGES:  Kinds  of,  125— Description,  125-«. 

FIELD  AND  SIEGE  GIN,  146. 

FIELD  SHELLS  :  Loading,  100— Charges,  108. 

FIELD-PARK,  42  ;  quantity  of  supplies  for,  42  :  carriages,  43. 

FILLING:  Mortar  shells,  101;  columbiad  shells,  &c.,  102. 

FIRE-BALLS:  Definition,  92— Charges,  61—lIow  preserved,  104. 

FIRING  :  Field  pieces,  46-7-8— Rapidity  of,  for  mortars,  34  ;  for 
field  pieces.  46 — Within  point  l)lank  range,  rule  for,  52 — At  night 
with  guns  and  howitzers,  55  ;  with  mortars,  59 — Mode  of  facili- 
tating firing  for  any  given  distance,  54  ;  use  of  remarkable  points 
on  the  ground,  55 — Ricochet  firing,  73 — Effect  of  firing  upwards 
under  a  large  angle.  65. 

FIXED  AMMUNITION  :  Storing  103-4— Weights  of,  107. 

FLIGHT  OF  PROJECTILES  :  Time  of,  149. 

FLANK-CASEMATE  carriage,  140-41.  ' 

FOOT,  number  of  gallons  in  a  cubic,  160. 

FOOT  SOLDIER,  space  occupied  by,  in  raukf-,  153. 


INDEX.  .  lOo 

FORGE,   143— Portable,   144— Xumber  with  a  field  battery,  41  ; 

with  field-park,  43. 
FORCES  acting  on  a  projectile,  51, 
FORCE  of  gravity,  159. 

FRICTION  PRIMER:  Description,  115;  advantages  of,  116. 
FURNACES  for  hot  shot,  97. 
FUZES:    Definition,    109— Wooden,    109-10— Paper,    111— Bor- 

mann,    112-13 — U.  S.   sea-coast,   114 — Composition  for  mortar 

fuzes,  110  ;  for  paper  fuzes.  111. 

GINS:  Field  and  siege,  146  ;  garrison,  146  :  casemate,   146. 

GO.MER  CHAMBER,  32. 

GRAPE  SHOT,  91  ;  weight  of,  lOY. 

GRATES  for  heating  shot,  98 

GRAVITY:  Specific,  ir)9— Force  of,  159. 

GREASE  for  Avheels,  158. 

GROOVES  for  rifle  cannon,  163-4. 

GRENADES,   91 — Angle  of  elevation   for,   when    thrown    from 

stone-mortars,  67. 
GROMMETTS,  09. 
GUNS  :   Definition,  26— Lengths,   27— Weights,  27— Proof,   22— 

Ranges,  68-9,  70-1-2 — Nomenclature,  13,  14,  15 — Principal  parts 

of,  26 — Projectiles  used  with.  27 — How  mounted,   26 — Natural 

angle  of  sight  of,  26. 
GUN  METAL  :  Bronze,  9,  lO— Cast  Iron,  9,  10. 
GUNNERS'    IMPLEMENTS  :   Level,    18— Quadrant,    18— How 

used,  52-3. 
GUN-CARRIAGES:  Field,  125-6;  seige,  128;  barbettes,  132-4; 

casemate,  138-9;  flank  casemate,  140;  mountain  howitzer,   127; 

wrought  iron.  141:  prairie,  127-8 — Columbaid,  136-7. 
gunpowder':  Materials,    83— Proportions,    83— Manufacture, 

84 — Qualities  of,  87 — Packing,   87-8 — Proving,   86 — Expansive 

velocity  and    pressure,    87 — Ilygrometric    proof,   87 — Relative 

quickness,  87 — Preservation  and  storage,  88-9 — Transportation, 

89. 
HAND-CART,  145. 
HAND  SLING-CART,  145-6. 
HAUSSE:  Pendulum,  17. 
HAY:   Weight  of,  154. 
HORSES:  Number  required  for  a  field  battery,  42:  for  seige  train, 

37 — Power  of,  152 — Space  occupied  by,  152 — Number  required 

for  seige  sun.   129— Weight  152. 
HORSE  ARTILLERY:  Peculiar  advantages  of  43. 
HOT  PHOT,  97-8-  Loading  with,  97— Eypansion  of.  96. 


i\A  INDEX. 

HOWITZERS :  Definition,  28— Kinds  of,  and  weigrhts,  29— 
Lenj^-lhs,  28-9 — Number  in  field  battery,  41  ;  in  siege  train,  36 — 
Cliauiber,  lorm  of,  28 — Advantages  of,  28 — Projectiles  used  with, 
28 — Natural  angle  of  sight  of,  29 — Charges  for,  62 — Pointing, 
61. 

ICE  :  Strength  of,  156. 

IMPLEMENTS:    Quadrant,    18;    breech   sight,    16,     pendulum 

hansse,  17  ;  gunner's  perpendicular,  18;  pointing  stakes,  57—8; 

pointing  wires,  56;  pluiinnet,  18,  58;  pointing  cord,  57. 
INCENDIARY  COMPOSITION,  117. 
INJURIES  to  cannon,  23. 
IRON  ])referred  to  bronze,  10. 
IRON  CANNON  used  in  land  service,  10,  IL 
JUNK- WADS,  99. 
KNOB  of  cascable,  13  ;  use  of.  19. 

LACQUER,  for  iron  guns,  160. 

LENGTH  of  cannon  :  Definition  of,  11 — Extreme  length,  12. 

LINE,  Of  fire,  64— Of  metal,  12  ;  how  directed,  52--3  ;  not  perma- 
nent, 54 — Artificial  line  of  sight,  53. 

LKiHT  BALLS,  92. 

LIMBERS:  For  field  carriages,  126  ;  for  siege  carriages,  129. 

LOADING  :  With  hot  shot,  97 — Field  shells,  100 — Spherical  case, 
101-2 — Mortar  shells,  101-2 — Shells  for  columbiads  and  other 
heavy  guns,  102. 

MAGAZINES:  Moisture  of,  how  absorbed,  89;  powder  stored  in, 
88;  precautions  to  be  observed  when  open,  89. 

MARKING  :  Cannon,  21—2;  condemned  shot  and  shell,  102;  pow- 
der barrels,  88. 

-MARCHES:  Ilorse-artillerv,  field-artillcrv,  cavalrv,  and  infantry, 
153. 

MATCH:  Quick,  116;  slow,  116. 

METALS  for  artillerv,  9. 

MOMENTUM,   151.   " 

MORTAR-WAGON,  145 

MORTARS,  31— Advantages  of,  31— Lengths  and  weights,  33— 
Kinds,  II — Beds,  weigh t.s  of,  33 — Platform,  121 — Form  of  cham- 
ber, 32 — Length  of  chamber  and  of  bore,  33 — Kinds  of  projectiles 
used  with,  34— Rapidity  of  fire  of  siege  mortars,  34— Pointing, 
56.  58;  Greatest  charges  for,  62 — Angles  of  elevation  for,  66-7— 
Siege  mortar  beds,  130-1- —Coehorn  mortar  beds,  131---E[>rou- 
^•ett.e  bed,  131 — Sen  -coast  nidtar  bod,  132. 


INDEX.  165 

MOUNTAIN  artfllerj' :  Dimension  and  Vi'eights  of,  29 — Composi- 
tion of  a  battery,  42— Ranges,  69, 
MULES:  Strength  of,   152. 
MUZZLE:  Definition,  15— Sight,  11. 

NATURAL  ANGLE  of  sight,  12. 

NECK:  Definition,  14. 

NOMENCLATURE  of  a  piece,  13,  14,  15. 

NIGHT  firing:  With  guns  and  howitzers,  55;  Avith  mortars,   59. 

OATS;  Weight  of,  154. 

PACK  horses,  15-2. 

PENDULUM-IIAUSSE,  17. 

PENDULUMS:  Length  of,  158. 

PENr:TRATION  of  balls;  In  Masonrv,  15p;  in  earth,  150. 

PERPENDICULAR,  gupners,  18. 

PILING:  Balls,  103— Canisters,  104— Loaded  shells,  104— Pow- 
der-barrels, 88 — Number  of  shot  in  a  pile,  104-5. 

PLATFORMS,  118— Siege,  119-20— Mortar,  121— Rail,  121— Ri- 
cochet, 122. 

PLUMMET  :  For  mortar  service,  18,  58 — For  regulating  march  of 
infantrv,  161. 

POINT-liLANK  RANGE,  63-4— Causes  which  vary  it,  64— Etfect 
on  it  of  firing  upwards  under  a  large  angle,  65 

POINTING  :  Guns  and  howitzers,  51 — Mortars,  50 — Stakes,  5T-8  — 
Wires,  56— Cord,  57— Board,  58. 

PORT  FIRES,  114— Composition  for,  115. 

POINT  of  fall.  73-4. 

PRAIRIE  CARRIAGE,  127-8. 

PREPONDERANCE  :  Definition,  19— Why  given,  19. 

PRIMERS:   Friction,  115. 

PRIMING  TUBES,  115. 

PRESERVATION  :  Of  cannon,  25— Fixed  ammunition,  103-4. 
Balls,  102— Grape  and  canister,  103 — Fire  imlls,  104. 

PROJECTILES  :  Solid  shot,  90— Shell,  90— Spherical  case,  90— 
Canister,  91 — Grape,  91 — Grenades,  91 — Carcasses,  92 — Fire- 
balls, 92 — Light-balls,  92 — Smoke-balls,  93 — Hot  shot,  97-8 — 
Forces  acting  on,  when  fired  from  a  piece,  51 — Kind  used  with 
field  pieces,  and  distance  at  which  they  should  be  employed,  46. 

QUADRANT  GUNNERS  :  How  used,  52-3. 

QUARTER  SIGHTS,  16. 

QUICK  MATCH,  116— How  set  fire  to,  117. 


166  INDEX. 

RANGES  :  Definition,  63— Point-blank,  63— British  point-blank, 
63 — Causes  which  vary  point-l)lank,  64 — Extreme  ranjre,  66— 
Angle  of  greatest  range  in  vacuo,  QQ — Tables  of,  68-9,  TO-1-2 — 
How  ascertained,  149. 

RATE  OF  MARCH  of  horse-artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry,  153. 

REICOIL  :  Definition,  77 — Cause  of,  77 — Amount,  77 — Has  no 
appreciable  eflect  on  flight  of  projectile,  78 — Influence  of  position 
of  axis  of  trunnions  on,  78-9. 

RE-INFORCE,  13— Band,  13.  ^ 

RE8ISTA.\XE  OF  AIR  to  projectiles,  147-8. 

RICOCHET  :  Definition,  73— Object  of,  73— How  conducted,  74- 
5 — Advantages  of,  73 — Nature  of,  75 — Charges  for  a  flattened 
ricochet,  7G  ;  for  curvated,  76 — Tables  of  ricochet  firing,  76 — 
Pieces  best  adapted  for,  75— Distance  from  object  of  ricochet 
battery,  74 — Greatest  angle  of  elevation  for  ricochet  firing,  74. 
.RIFLE-CANNON:  Experiments  at  Fort  Monroe,  166-7— Arm- 
strong gun,  165. 

RIM  BASSES,  14. 

RING  WADS.  94. 

RIVERS  :  Breadth,  156-7. 

ROPES  :  size  and  strength  of,  156. 

SABOTS:  Difference  in,  foi  field. service,  93 — Arrangements  for 
field  guns  and  12-pdr.  field  howitzers,  93  ;  in  24  and  32-pdr. 
field  howitzers,  93 — Mode  of  fastening  sabots  to  projectiles  for 
field-service,  93-4  ;  for  heavy  shells,  94  ;  for  canisters,  94-5  ;  for 
grape-shot,  95. 

SEA-COAST  PIECES,  how  mounted,  35— Number  and  kind  re- 
c^uired  for  sea-board  forts,  35 — Heavy  sea-coast  mortar-bed, 
131-2. 

SCALING  a  piece,  21. 

SHOT  :  Solid,  90— Hollow,  90— Rule  for  finding  weights  and  dia- 
meters of  cast-iron  shot,  95 — Condemned  shot,  how  rnarked,  102 
— Piling,  103-4 — Preservation,  102-3 — Forces  acting  on  a  shot, 
51 — Penetration,  149-50 — Time  required  to  heat,  97-8— Expan- 
sion of  by  heat,  96 — Ranges  of,  68-72— Method  of  driving  out 
shot  wedged  in  the  bore,  21 — Velocity  of,  147. 

3HELLS,  90  ;  Dimensions  and  weights,  106-7--Modc  of  computing 
weight  of,  95 — Quantity  of  powder  to  fill,  96— Strapping,  93--- 
Loading,  100-1-2 — Ranges,  68-72— Condemned,  how  marked, 
102— Velocity,  147. 

SIGHTS  of  a  piece:  Definition  12— How  determined,  12 — Quar- 
ter, in. 


IJNDEX.  167 

SIEGK  ARTILLERY:  Kinds,  36 — Proportions  in  a  siege  train, 
3G  ;  of  carriages,  SG-T  ;  draught  horses,  37  ;  projectiles  and  am- 
munition, 37-8 — Siege  mortar-beds,  130-1. 

SLING-CART:  Hand,  146. 

SLOW  MATCH,  116.' 

SMOKE  BALLS,  93, 

SOUND  :  Velocitv,  151— Distance  determined  by,  151. 

SPECIFIC  GRAVITY,  159. 

SPHERICAL  CASE,  90— Loading,  100—1. 

SPIKING  cannon,  20. 

STAKES,  pointing  :  How  planted,  57-8. 

STONE  MORTAR:  Length,  33— Weight.  33— Calibre,  33— Length 
of  bore,  33 — Length  of  chamber,  33 — Use  of,  34 — Stones,  how 
disposed,  34. 

STORING  of  fixed  ammunition,  103-4. 

STRAPPING  SHOT  and  shells,  93-4. 

STRENGTH:   Of  ice,  156— Of  rope,  15G. 

SWELL  of  the  muzzle,  14. 

TABLES  :  Of  charges,  62— Of  ranges,  68-9,  70-1-2— Of  windage, 
81-2— Of  weights  of-  projectiles,  106-7— Of  measures,  159™Of 
averdupois  weight,  150. 

TACTICS  of  field  artillery,  44-5-6-7-8-0-50. 

TANGENT  SCALE,  16. 

TIME  OF  FLIGHT  for  siege  mortars,  67— How  found,  149. 

TRAJECTORY,  64. 

TRANSPORTATION  :  Of  artillery  by  sea,  161-2— Of  siege-gun^, 
129. 

TRAVERSE  circles,  135. 

TRUNNIONS:  Definition,  14— Use,  19— Position  in  mortars,  Si- 
Beds,  129. 

TRUE  WINDAGE:  Definition,  15. 

UNSPIKING  cannon,  21. 

VALENCIENNES  composition,  117. 

VELOCITY  :  Of  balls,  147— Loss  of,  by  resistance  of^  air,  147— 

Of  sound,  151 — Loss  of,  by  windage,  81. 
VENT  :  Definition,  15— Position  and  diameter  of,  16. 
VERTICAL  FIRE,  31. 

WADS  :  Grommet,  00— Junk,  99— Hay,  for  firing  hot  shot,  08. 
"WATER  :  Weight  of,  161 — Allowance  for  a  man  and  a  horse,  154. 
WEIGHTS  :   Guns.  27— Columbiads,  SO-'-IIowilzers,  20— Mortars, 


l(^-«  INDEX. 

;;3— Projectiles,  106-'7 — Of  wheels  for  field  carriages,  144;  and 
for  siepre  carriagrcs,  144 — Pro])ortions  between  weights  of  shot, 
95 — Of  cast-iron  shot  or  shell,  how  determined,  95 — Quantity  of 
powder  to  fill  a  shell,  how  found,  96 — Carried  by  horses,  152-j- 
Carried  by  an.  infantry  soldier,  154. 

WHEELS  :  Field  carriage,  size  and  Aveight,  144 — Siege  carriage, 
size  and  weight,  144 — Parts  of,  124. 

WINDAGE  :  Definition,  80— Amount,  81-2---Loss  Of  velocity  by, 
81  —  Advantage  of  a  reduction  of,  81. 

WIRES,  pointing,  56. 


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